Common Core for Dummies

For my English Comp 2 class, I chose Common Core for one of the two major research papers.  This paper was actually pretty fun to research, because it was about education in Oklahoma.  I already knew, after moving here and seeing the step-daughter's school system is one of the worst school systems I have ever personally seen....

The fact is, Oklahoma ranks extremely low in its education and it shows.  If something isn't done to fix this runaway state government, we'll find that Oklahoma will be dragging the entire state down into the abyss of uneducation....  Anyways, here's the research paper, hope you enjoy it!

(poem) - A Dark and Dreary December Day

On a dark and dreary December day
When the cold rain fell from the unseen sky.
I dreamed I wasn’t dreaming darkly
While, in the distance, I heard a crow’s deathly cry.

Veiled by the mists surrounding me
These mists that even time had forgot
I strained with my blinded eyes against it all
Yet in the end, I saw it not.

Language Fails Me

Words are slippery things in the English language.  I have a friend who was in the Navy being a linguist.  Since he had a better understanding of languages, he always said, “English is the best language in the world.”  Personally, I disagree.

I disagree on many points.  The fact is, I cannot say many things without some string of adjectives in front of it to define what the heck it is I’m trying to say.  I think that’s pretty dumb.  I can’t tell someone I love them as a friend, without tacking on a bunch of stuff, because if I don’t tack on that crap, then suddenly I’m in love and my entire marriage is in jeopardy.

(poem) - The Age of Rust

What is left for us
Those who dwell in the rust

Days pass by and still we persist
Its almost as if, we are still trying to resist

People still call it ‘The Man’
Because its all part of the Machine’s plan

Its rolling and churning
Doing nothing but destroying

Collecting money for itself
Putting all its riches upon the shelf

We all help it along
Even if you do nothing but smoking a bong

Because it feeds off all of us
In one way or another, in god we trust

What hope is there for a better tomorrow
I feel the death of us in my bone’s marrow

It gives me aches and pains
As fear seeps in, destroying memories within my brain

Is the past the thing I remember
Or did I gloss it all over in November?

I stare into the mirror’s reflection
And fear my face’s deep set aggression

For there is nothing but hatred within my eyes
For those that tell all the lies

Because lies are what got us here
Kiss all the rich people’s rears

We are nothing but the cobble stones
That led them all to there hedonistic thrones

Luckily there is a special place in hell
For all those that poisoned the well

Because poisoned it has become
In this existence that is nothing but bedlam

We strive and strive for things we can’t have
For our wounds, there is no salve

So go out and slave away
At minimum wage all day

As the people above your boss
Reap all the benefits of the life you’ve lost

While I ponder what is left for the rest of us
As well dwell in the Age of Rust.

--Dan

--Want more Poetry?  Check out my Poetry Collection Page!

The Loss of Artistry

One of the reasons why America sucks is because of the loss of artistry.  Most know that I’m a huge finger pointer when I go to point out that this country is going down hill fast, but honestly, there needs to be something done.

In 90% of the jobs out there, it seems, there is no need for art of any kind.  Just manual labor.  Do this and get paid for it.  But those that get promoted, normally, are the ones that think outside the box, the ones that see a solution to a problem no one had even noticed.

(poem) - Black Friday 2013

Shop shop shop
Shop until you drop
Then shop even more
For the items you want to adore

Black Friday
Cyber Monday
Call it what you will
You will keep shopping until

You’ve spent all your money
Ain’t it so funny?
That you nabbed that deal
Because you thought the deals were real?

Some camped out all night
Hoping not to get a fright
Because its scary not getting that TV
Can you even believe?

The day after giving thanks
People empty their banks
Fighting to get new stuff
Because no one can ever have enough

They will fight and claw
Even punch you in the jaw
To get that item they want
Capitalism at its most blunt

This is what people think
Christmas is all about
Fighting over a small toy
Instead of sharing in all the joy

Every year I grow
To hate this season more and more
Because of all the greed
That I see in every deed

Happiness and Goodwill towards men be damned
Screw you all
And screw you well
For I got my deepfryer on sale

I only had to sit for hours
On a sidewalk in the snow
Wrestle some woman to the ground
And kick a man in the groin

But I saved a dollar ninety-nine
Suck on that, you Black Friday noob!
I saw you standing in that Toys-R-Us line
Watching a catfight, hoping to see a boob.

A sad day indeed
When we all agree we need
Something more than family
To celebrate such a wonderful holiday....

--Dan

--Want more Poetry?  Check out my Poetry Collection Page!

"Great" Italian Food, Does it Exist?

The other day, Lisa and I went out to eat at yet another ‘great’ Italian restaurant.  And yet again, we walked away completely unsatisfied and revolted at what we paid for.  Maybe there are other factors at work, or maybe I’m just insane, but I have yet to have any type of Italian food that even comes close to what I can make out of a can at home.

From previous posts, most know that I am a decent amateur cook, but I don’t claim I’m the best.  I can make some spaghetti that people absolutely love, sure, but I’ve always figured everyone could.  Lisa and I watch Master Chef, and Lisa thinks I could be on that show, but I’m blown away by what those people can cook.  But in the end, there’s the premise.  Have amateur cooks make restaurant quality food.

Something is Wrong With the World

There’s something truly amazing about fall, though this year, its been a bit...odd.  There were several things earlier in the year that showed the world that nature was a bit off.

It snowed in May here.  That’s beyond crazy that it would happen.  Immediately after, though, we started seeing some really odd things.  Mom was quick to report that all the summer flowers bloomed at once.  Here we noticed that some of the trees seemed to not understand what was going on, one particular tree that blooms in the spring bloomed 3 times over the summer....

Why So Many Churches in Small Town, USA?

Why are there so many churches in small town USA?  I mean, seriously....  It doesn’t make too much sense.  I suppose it does when you get down to normal human social interaction, but...I thought religion was supposed to bring humanity above such nonsense....

Its when you talk to people that you realize what exactly is going on.  People not liking a particular preacher because of something he said about somebody.  Or people not knowing why certain people go there because they are too poor or too rich to be in the same company as others.

(poem) - Stupid Phone

Stupid phones are everywhere
No matter how smart they say they are
Having to disassemble them
Because they lock up from time to time

A phone should never
Lock up, like ever
And I flat out do not see
Why people buy Sony

Android phones are trash
They flat out do not last
They cannot take the rigors of every day
I’ve seen them lock up in every way

My wife takes the battery
Out of her’s daily
That is a sad way to be
Phones should be about simplicity

I sit back with my iDevice
Smiling at her torturous device
Wishing a better phone for her
While playing my apps that load with a blur

The fact is simply put
Phones are designed without consumer input
Bells and whistles are nothing but crap
They just want to check their social media app

It’s a shame that people argue
Over which smart phone is better for you
As all have their issues
Making people break out the tissues

But cell phones absolutely rule the day
People use them as much as a tired cliche
They definitely aren’t going away
I just wish they’d make one that would work okay.

--Dan

--Want more Poetry?  Check out my Poetry Collection Page!

An Example of Media Non-Bias

Sometimes bias in the news and media is so apparent it’s a slap in the face.  I’m always saddened when no one else seems to notice.  I mean...wow sometimes....

The other day we were watching the news and there were two back to back items that made me shake my head.  Let me say this first.  The Railroad is something that has been falling behind in the USA.  A very large portion of the world utilize this amazing form of transportation and moving freight, because the sheer amount it can carry makes it extremely viable.

A Fine Dining Lie

Maybe its just because I’ve traveled a bit....  That has to be it, because...when I think of Fine Dining, I don’t think of a crowded hole in the wall, waiting an hour on food, greasy food that I end up throwing up when I get home, or over peppered chicken that drowns out any other flavors that may have been there.

Part of me wonders if its just the city itself, its not a very big city, but it really seems to try (and fail) at certain things.  The weird thing is, people eat up this ‘fancy’ talk and really give these places awesome reviews....

The Visible Effects of Hard Drugs on the Body

One of the ugliest parts of living in a small town is the ratio of people who use drugs.  What is really sad is how apparent it is.  Many drugs damage the body in many obvious ways.  Crystal Meth is one of the most obvious.

Lisa and I are close to the same age, yet there are people she graduated with that look well over double our age.  The scars, the sagging skin, the wrinkles, and the teeth are all huge indicators.  There are so many folks she’s introduced me to that look as old as Lisa’s mother (who has aged decently well) yet are either our age or younger.

A Disorder, or Just Being Mean

Why do people have to spread a bad mood?  I know the Metallica song, “Misery Love Company,” but seriously, why would anyone do that intentionally?  It seems like the main phone calls we get are from someone who just HAS to make sure everyone is in a bad mood....

A while back, in another blog, I mentioned the Borderline Personality Disorder, or BPD.  I honestly have issues with ‘clinical problems’ because these are just things people have always had, we just finally gave it a name, and now that it has a name, we can now medically treat it....  Most disorders don’t need to be treated, they just need to be gotten over, but sometimes, you run across bad ones that need some kind of intervention.