Reflections Over 2024

1.  To be honest, if there is some alien invasion going on....most Americans might be open to the idea because of the crappy lack of trust we have with politicians, the police, lawyers, and authorities....in general. 

2.  Some of us haven't watched a single hour of CNN all year, and can't say we missed much.

3.  Once this whole idea of absorbing Canada into the US got explained in detail....it just seems like a majority of people think it's a great idea.  But the same people aren't keen on it being 12 different states....they just want one state called Canada. 

4.  When Trump's idea of 'buying' Greenland came up....probably 95-percent of people had to pull out a map to find where the hell it was located.

5.  Folks were rather shocked to discover that Haiti is more or less run by one gang, with the gang 'boss' named 'Bar-b-que'.  

6.  Americans were rather shocked to discover....as hopeless and 'lost' as Joe Biden was....Kamala Harris apparently was equally hopeless and 'lost' (maybe more so). And no matter how many times you viewed this Tim-guy as her VP....you got the impression that he was pretty goofy (more so than Joe Biden).

7.   Megalopolis, without much discussion.....was considered the worst movie of 2024.  Some weird clash between a artist and a mayor....set in the future where nothing makes sense.  You needed 15 shots of booze to make it through the whole 138 minutes.

8.   That Elon guy surprised folks about every 48 hours in 2024....on average.  It didn't matter what he said....you actually took a liking to the guy.

9.  Most everyone agreed by mid-November....getting political advice from Hollywood idiots....made no sense.

10.  It just became an acceptable practice in 2024....to be disrespectful of others while in public.  

11.  You finally reached a point where you weren't going to pay $16 for a McDonalds menu meal.

12.  People are reaching a level now....assessing both high school students and college students.....as dumbasses, and education is mostly about dumbing-down people.

13.  Most of us found it odd....84-year old Nancy Pelosi....needing to wear 3-inch heels, and tumbling down a staircase....breaking her hip.

14.  Most folks upon hearing all this exploding beepers in the Middle East story....just started asking who the hell owns beepers?  Most folks remember beepers going away around 2000/2001.  Some kids asked what the hell were beepers?

15.  Rather shocking....Americans in 2024...are using 'credit' (credit cards) to buy groceries, because they don't make enough to cover the monthly grocery bill.

Teacher Story

 Starting tomorrow....in New Jersey....there's a new law going into effect.  If you were curious about becoming a teacher in NJ....there will  be no requirement to take a test for teachers....on reading, writing and mathematics.

Yes, the certification is gone.

Reason?  They could not fill the positions sitting there empty.....so logically, they felt they could get the teacher billets filled....if no test existed.

I paused over this....pondering.

I worked once in a Department of Defense organization with a commander's secretary....who'd been taking evening classes for 12 years.  She was about to graduate college with a bachelor's degree.  

Her mother was connected to the city council in some way, and had gotten this gal hired-up to be a teacher (3rd grade).

If you had attempted to measure the 'wit' of this secretary....I'd guess her IQ to be in the 80-to-85 range....meaning she was not that bright. How she got the degree (legit local college)?  Unknown.  

At the time, you had to take a certificate-like test on math, and English.  Somehow, she'd passed.  But if you asked me on competency....I'd shake my head.

What'll happen in New Jersey?  Within a decade....most residents will not trust the education system, and kids finishing high school will marginally be able read, or do anything much with numbers.

Should we worry about this?  No....as long as you know they are from New Jersey....you can cross them off the hiring list, and save yourself time.  They are the future employees of McDonalds, or garbage-truck drivers.