Summer vacation starts today for the public schools of Schenectady County, NY.
The daily routines of many of our inhabitants will be changing — a great opportunity
for thinking about what we do, why, and how, in our everyday lives.
Before attempting such deep thoughts, though, I suggest experiencing a few
haiku from teacher-poet-publisher Randy Brooks’ volume School’s Out:
schoool’s out–
a boy follows his dog
into the woods
last day of school
the crack of a baseball bat
outside the open window
new grave . . .
a graduation tassel
hangs from the stone
here’s one I wish I had found for my Father’s Day post
a few days ago:
the pinwheel stops
grandpa catches
his breath
Randy Brooks, from School’s Out (Press Here, 1999)

School may be out, but Ms. Elefant, the schoolmarm from MyShingle,
has given me a bunch of homework – the @#&%!! Music Baton. As
happened when I was struck with the Book Stick (by another so-called
friend), I must give some thought to this assignment, if it’s to be worthwhile
for myself or my readers. Meanwhile, nobody better try smacking me with
a Food Wand, Sexual Fantasies Staff, or TV Antenna.
After all these years following Andrew Capoccia‘s Debt Reduction scam,
I had to click on the link that arrived today via email spam from No Debts. These guys
actually tell you they’re located in Latvia (with a locator map). They promise to
make you debt-free in 2 to 3 business days [more likely, liquid-asset free]. Their
math and their English are not great. For example, they tout that you’ll only
“Pay only 85% – 90% of your total debt!” Although “All costs are included in
the program,” you’re never told what the costs will be. I sure hope this is a fun
hoax, as I would hate to think that there are consumers who would fall for it.
The New York Times editors are right: “A Pentagon inquiry’s finding of no
overt religious discrimination at the Air Force Academy strains credibility.” The
notion that there’s no problem, if the preachers and doomsayers are “well-intended”
is scary indeed. (I sure hope those who are trying to save my heathen soul have good
intentions.) [“Obfuscating Intolerance,” and “Air Force Staff found promoting religion,”
June 23, 2005)