The Serial Thinker Blog

I Survived The Pre-Nerf Generation

I lived in the Pre-Nerf generation.... and survived.

Remember those orange rubber playground balls? When it would get cold they would really sting when you got hit playing dodgeball or whatever game was going on? It made you more agile and a better dodgeball player because there was a genuine incentive not to get hit by the ball. Nowadays, dodgeball has been banned by most schools because it is 'violent' and 'predatory', but if it weren't it wouldn't matter because the playground balls have been replaced by these squishy foam rubber balls (like Nerf balls covered by a nylon skin). What's the incentive to get out of the way? It's not going to hurt if you get hit by these things, even at close range. The kids are willing to wipe each other out on video games, but have little physical resilience in the real world. We should bring back old school playground games and stop making wimps of the next generation.

Absolution

It is becoming quite clear to me that a process is necessary to absolve some people of their sins of being white, Christian, or conservative in public. To that end, I will be making an online confessional available where, for a small offering, your voting history, campaign contributions, and even whiteness can be temporarily forgiven.

Recognizing that you will once again be white, conservative, and/or Christian when you depart the confessional, regular visits are recommended.

Payment plans are available.

Crypto is accepted.

Modern Pfarma Steps Up

"Attention all good children! Modern Pfarma is excited to announce that we will be taking over Santa's duties this holiday season. As a way to spread joy and protect the health of our communities, we will be delivering presents only to children who have received both the initial vaccine and the full series of booster shots. Help us spread the word, mask up, stay home and let's make this a safe and happy holiday for all. Ho, ho, ho!"

Santa Says “Farewell”

Dear Children of the World,

It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that I will no longer be serving as Santa Claus. It has been an honor to spread joy and cheer for so many years, but it is time for me to retire. I want to thank you all for the love and support you have shown me throughout the years.

Unfortunately, I must also inform you that there will not be a replacement for me. As a result, the distribution of presents this holiday season will be canceled. I apologize for any disappointment this may cause.

Please do not be sad, as the spirit of giving and spreading joy can still be alive in your hearts. You can show kindness to others and bring happiness in your own unique ways.

I will cherish the memories of our time together and I hope that you will always remember the magic of the holiday season.

With love and gratitude,

Santa Claus

Waltzing Matilda - The Dancing Ghost

Waltzing Matilda, a ghost so fair, Danced through the halls with ghostly air. With ethereal grace and a ghostly gleam, She twirled and whirled in a ghostly dream.

Her translucent form, a sight to behold, As she danced in the moonlight, so bold. She waltzed to the music of the night, With a rhythm that gave us such delight.

But as the clock struck twelve, she disappeared, Leaving us all with ghostly fear. For Waltzing Matilda, our ghostly friend, Was a ghost who danced until the very end.

But in our hearts, she'll forever stay, Dancing and waltzing, night and day. A ghost who brought us such joy and glee, Waltzing Matilda, we'll always see thee.

‘Science is a method of investigation, not a belief system,” John Cleese

The American Dream

The American Dream.

Not the Canadian, not the Mexican, not the French or the Swedish Dream. The American Dream. It has been the aspiration of millions of people from every corner of the world for over 200 years. The American Dream has provided the light for millions stranded in darkness to take the risk to come here and make the best of it. Through their own hard work and sacrifice, they could build a better life than the one they left. They could provide opportunities for their children and grandchildren that they would never be able to actualize in their native lands.

Arriving with nothing and sometimes less than nothing, burdened with disease and poverty and despair they landed; and made this place their own. They became Americans. Not hyphenated-Americans, not differentiated Americans, just Americans. They opened up shops and joined businesses and in my family's case began farming. They followed the rules and obeyed the laws and eventually became citizens. They endured every kind of hardship, but they stuck with it because they believed in the possibilities that America held.

They didn't come for a handout or free anything. They came for the opportunity to work and breathe free air. To raise their children and make a life for themselves. These are the people who I welcome to MY country and am proud to call my fellow citizens. These are the people I now see working in technology and whose kids I teach every day. These are the people who enrich our country by embracing it, by sharing their cultures not imposing them, by improving our home through lawful productive behavior.

In the film "Kingdom of Heaven" the character Balian of Ibelin has the following statement written on the crossbeam of his blacksmith shop, "Nemo vir est qui mundum non reddat meliorem," What man is a man who does not make the world better. To the refugees and immigrants who strengthen and make our country better, Welcome Home. I wish you prosperity, health, and happiness in your pursuit of the American Dream.

This was finals week at our high school. At my school, progress reports come out this afternoon and "grade grubbing" began in earnest this week.

Student: "Mr. Reyes, is there anything that I can do to bring up my grade; my parents are going to kill me if I'm getting a C- in your class."

Me: "You can turn your assignments in on time from this point forward. You can study for quizzes. You can write things down when I tell the class, 'You should write this down'."

It's not the desired response, but grade grubbing is a HUGE pet peeve of mine and I don't feed into it.

On a more pedagogical level, this came to mind:

When learning is transactional - done for a grade - the impact is fleeting. When learning is done for its own sake, it endures. In a modern context, the difference between learning something at school and learning something from YouTube.

For the record. I don't feel guilty. About anything that I've achieved or accomplished. That I live in a nice community or that my kids attended good schools. I don't feel guilty that I am able to read and write and communicate proficiently in the language of the majority culture. I don't feel guilty that my kids have led a comfortable life and that they have experienced things that many adults will never see or do. My kids are kind and smart and care about other people. They are ambitious yet community oriented. They have been raised with solid values by parents who care about them and provide stability and counsel. I don't feel guilty about any of this because I can trace every single bit of it back to hard work.
Whether it's lengthy discussions about how to raise kids or putting in extra hours and saving the money to take a nice vacation, our own efforts have created the great lives we have. Not some mythical White privilege, not membership into an exclusive ethnic club that rains benefits down on us and not on people who are not like us. We belong to a club that is open to anyone. The self-reliance quit sniveling and work your ass off club. Membership is free but that doesn't mean that it's without cost. It costs hours and years and sacrifices, but membership has its rewards.
So to those sanctimonious progressives who are fretfully wringing their hands about whether or not they deserve the breaks they've had in life.... If you have to wonder about it, you don't deserve it. I don't wonder about it for a second. All of my shit is earned.

How far back do reparations claims extend, how are the obligations assigned, and how are the amounts due determined? There needs to be a formula so that the distribution is equitable.