Good Morning, California! We Still Have a Few Things to Discuss
What a great time we had last night at the Rico-Suave Super-Exclusive Get-Together! How about those screaming fans and the gate-crashers who failed the "Name Claire's Cats" test and had to be escorted off the premises by the bouncers? Wild, huh?
Anyway, I really enjoyed meeting you all last night but woke up with this odd feeling that something was missing. Then I realized what it was: We opened up all these interesting threads, conversationally, but now they're just hanging out there, even though I've had a night to sleep on them and I still have more to say.
So I'm going to open them up again here, all in one go. Those of you who participated in the conversations can just take it up where we left off. Maybe you'd help me out by filling in the details and explaining where we were when we said goodbye.
Those of you who weren't there--here's what you missed. It's not too late to join the conversation.
1) Spiral Dynamics: What does the theory say, and how can it help us understand the foreign policy outlook of the Obama Administration?
2) Silicon Valley: Whoa, that's cool! You're really building that? Sounds like Silicon Valley is in great shape! But who's going to buy it if consumer demand doesn't pick up?
3) Political charisma: Is it genetic? What was it that Bill Clinton did, I mean, what was it exactly, that made people feel as if they'd fallen under a voodoo hex when they shook his hand? How did people know it the moment Ronald Reagan walked into a room--even if they were looking the other way?
4) Melatonin: Does it really work to cure jet lag? Peter and I say no, but George swears it does. He says he has the secret formula--it's all about dosage and timing. I would have gotten the formula out of him, but I was nodding off.
5) Graduate School: Do you really need it? Does Diane need it, in particular? I say probably not--yes, it can come in handy later to have that title, but don't forget the opportunity costs. Besides, there's no such thing as a happy graduate student.
6) Cars: I think this concerned some past experiment with the BMW console. I know it must have been interesting because Rob, Peter and George were going on about it forever. It involved some fatal design mistake that they agreed unanimously was highly annoying. But that was the point where I'd pretty much checked out--my body was present, but my soul was with Margaret and Ronnie. (George, let's discuss that Melatonin.) I'll leave it to Rob to pick this one up, because he was really, really into this conversation and I bet other people would be, too.
7) The stimulus: Do you really need to understand a lot of economics to grasp why it's not working? Isn't that just common sense?
8) Women on Ricochet: There are a lot of them! I guess at first no one expected that. (Beats me why they didn't.)
9) Judith--isn't she a great contributor? We're glad she's back. That story about the apple juice on the Israeli charter flight was just so Israeli, wasn't it?
10) The T-shirts in the souvenir shops at Dulles Airport. "Don't blame me, I didn't vote for him." "I love my country, it's the government that scares me." But not a single T-shirt recognizing Obama as the Messiah. That's got to be significant, don't you think?
Oh, wow! George just read my mind and sent me an article about melatonin. Thanks, George! It's a PDF, though, so I can't link to it.
Take it away, folks, these threads are still open for business.
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May '10
Re: Good Morning, California! We Still Have a Few Things to Discuss
I only comment on two points, as a non-attendee:
5) Graduate School: Do you really need it? Does Diane need it, in particular? I say probably not--yes, it can come in handy later to have that title, but don't forget the opportunity costs. Besides, there's no such thing as a happy graduate student.
Being a "bachelor" is so common, and a mere "master" sounds like a ten year old British nephew; my JD is just so I can feel important even though I don't know anything. Heritage Foundation seldom invites non-doctorates to address their assemblages, and sometimes you need the credentials to battle back against all the lefty academics on TV. So this is situation-dependent. Without grad school, my kids wouldn't have their current jobs. But then, maybe, without grad school, they'd be married, so take your choice.
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I do see why I didn't belong there- Rob, Peter, and George all talking BMW issues. My paid-off Hyundai would have been embarrassing out in the parking lot. I'm too tight to spend that much on maintenance.......
May '10
Re: Good Morning, California! We Still Have a Few Things to Discuss
Sorry, can't post right now. Still busy eating my heart out.
May '10
Re: Good Morning, California! We Still Have a Few Things to Discuss
Midget Faded Rattlesnake
Briar Ann
Now, I'm trying to decide on whether to pursue a graduate program in math. Any recommendations, MFR? · Sep 3 at 9:05am
If your family may need your care in the next 5 years and you want a doctorate, apply for masters programs first, knowing that once you get through that, you can move on to the doctorate. This gives you more flexibility.· Sep 3 at 10:17am
Thanks for the info, MFR. Much appreciated! My sights are a bit lower though (family and life considerations). I'm interested in teaching at a community college level. This interest comes directly out of my homeschooling experience; never, ever, intended to teach professionally but seeing the light come on with a student is something else!
Aug '10
Re: Good Morning, California! We Still Have a Few Things to Discuss
Briar Ann
Thanks for the info, MFR. Much appreciated!... never, ever, intended to teach professionally but seeing the light come on with a student is something else!
You're welcome, and it is something else, isn't it?
Jul '10
Re: Good Morning, California! We Still Have a Few Things to Discuss
Adam Freedman
I don't know about Peter, but Rob will fly to NY at the drop of a hat. Maybe we should just name the date. My city apt is too small, but I'd gladly hop on Metro North . . . · Sep 3 at 8:25am
Count me in for the East Coast version! I'll be back stateside in November. I'm definitely up for a post-election ECRF, and would be happy to host at my place in Long Island (although that would double Ms. Hennessey's travel time...)
Jun '10
Re: Good Morning, California! We Still Have a Few Things to Discuss
Ahhh, but the pleasure of her company outweighs the ego-hit, yes?