British politician believes dyslexia a myth

NOTE TO SELF: THIS MAN WAS ELECTED TO SERVE HIS CONSTITUENTS?


"It is time that the dyslexia industry was killed off and we recognised that there are well-known methods for teaching everybody to read and write."
Graham Stringer MP


Nobody said that politicians had to be smart to get elected. Case in point, a British Labor Member of Parliment who commented in an online column that dyslexia was a myth perpetrated by educators to cover up poor teaching.

I'm sure those who are in education must have been in shock to read this statement.

The politician, one Graham Stringer, described the condition as "cruel fiction" and should be consigned to the "dustbin of history." Furthermore, he says he believes that many children can't read or write because - well - merely the wrong teaching methods are used.

Silly teachers! All those years of university to acquire knowledge and know-how to pass on to young, fertile minds only to hear from a non-teacher that they have been using the wrong methods. It's so...logical! Were that only the case...

Responding to the politician's conclusion, Charity Dyslexia Action said that dyslexia was real to the six million people in the UK who were affected by the condition.

In the column, which appeared in the Manchester Confidential, Stringer opined that millions of pounds were wasted on specialist teaching for what he labeled, a "false" condition. He also wrote that children should instead be taught to read and write by using a system called, synthetic phonics.

And the politico knows this...how?

"To label children as dyslexic because they're confused by poor teaching methods is wicked.
If dyslexia really existed then countries as diverse as Nicaragua and South Korea would not have been able to achieve literacy rates of nearly 100%. There can be no rational reason why this 'brain disorder' is of epidemic proportions in Britain but does not appear in South Korea or Nicaragua."

Financial considerations appear to be a factor in his statements. He wrote that "currently, 35,500 students receive disability allowances for dyslexia at an annual cost of £78.4m."

Furthermore, certified dyslexics get longer in exams.

Makes sense to me. If you have trouble reading/understanding the question, it takes longer to write an answer!

Read the rest of Stringer's beliefs and reader's comments and reactions related to the story, here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/7828121.stm

Oh dear - Sarah you-know-who talks turkey

NOTE TO SELF: SOME TURKEY!

Oh my-oh-my...

As Alaska Gov. Sarah "I can see the world from my house" Palin pardoned one (1) turkey as part of the annual Thanksgiving save-a-turkey event, others were being slaughtered on TV in the background.

"As she answered questions Thursday at Triple D Farm & Hatchery outside Wasilla cameras from the Anchorage Daily News and others showed the bloody work of an employee slaughtering birds behind the former Republican vice presidential candidate. On the video, Palin didn’t comment about the slaughter as she answered questions, saying she’s thankful that her son’s Stryker brigade is relatively safe in Iraq and the rest of her family is healthy and happy. She said she’s glad to be back in Alaska.

“This was neat,” she said of the outing. “I was happy to get to be invited to participate in this. For one, you need a little bit of levity in this job, especially with so much that has gone in the last couple of months that has been so political obviously that it’s nice to get out and do something to promote a local business and to just participate in something that isn’t so heavy-handed politics that it invites criticism. Certainly we’ll probably invite criticism for even doing this, too, but at least this was fun.”

Source: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2008/11/21/7488496-ap.html

Perhaps Gov. Palin should consider using her brain before commenting on such a neat outing.

Here is a video of the "fun" event: http://community.adn.com/adn/node/134739

Thing is...many of us eat turkey including myself but why-oh-why wasn't she aware what was going on in the background? President Palin? One can only shiver...

Ignorant radio host rants on about autism

NOTE TO SELF: UNDER WHICH ROCK DO THESE IGNORANT PEOPLE CRAWL OUT FROM?

Sometimes I wonder how some idiotic radio hosts whose tongues flap in the wind, keep their jobs.

This guy who I never heard of before (thank goodness) and definitely will NOT tune into, Michael Savage, opines that autistic children are merely spoiled brats with behavior problems. Watch the CNN video and despair about the sheer stupidity of his comments. For example he is quoted as saying:

“Now the illness du jour is autism. You know what autism is? I’ll tell you what autism is. In 99 percent of the cases, it’s a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out. That’s what autism is.”

According to one media report, parents of autistic kids called for his firing and at least one advertiser yanked its ads from his syndicated show. About 40 parents and grandparents of autistic children protested yesterday outside WOR-AM (710) in New York City, one of the more than 350 radio stations - including WRKO-AM (680) - that airs his program. Another protest is planned for tomorrow at the San Francisco station where his show is broadcast.

Watch the CNN report here:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/07/22/cho.autism.uproar.cnn

More about the motor-mouth here:
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view/2008_07_22_Savage_attack_on_autism:_Some_call_for_firing_of_radio_talk_show_host/srvc=home&position=0

BRIT BROADCASTER TO AIR DIANA CRASH PHOTOS IN DOCUMENTARY

NOTE TO MYSELF: How much is too much?


There's a big controversy in England regarding the broadcast of a documentary entitled, "Diana: The Witnesses in the Tunnel" featuring still more graphic photos of the car crash that killed Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed to be televised on British TV.

As expected Diana's sons Prince William and Harry have asked the British broadcaster in question not to air the photos taken, terming it a "gross disrespect" to her memory. However, publicity is publicity is... and given the continuing fascination with Diana, the broadcaster, Channel 4, has decided to go ahead with the program.

"The princes reluctantly feel that they have been left no choice but to make it clear publicly that they believe the broadcast of these photographs to be wholly inappropriate, deeply distressing to them and to the relatives of the others who died that night, and a gross disrespect to their mother's memory," said a statement by Clarence House, Prince Charles's official residence.

Would be interesting to know if North American viewers would watch this program on TV if given the opportunity.

Would YOU?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6697131.stm


Writers & Friends
www.jrslater.com/forum

CALLING WHOOPIE! "THE VIEW" NEEDS YOU!

NOTE TO SELF: Send note to ABC to hire Whoopie


After the surprise announcement of Rosie's leaving "The View", the question now is who will replace her. Has to be somebody who is opinionated with a mind of her own, witty, is relaxed in front of a camera but most of all, is a talented and entertaining performer.

Enter Whoopie Goldberg, my choice.

Given the above-mentioned criteria in my opinion, she is a perfect fit like the proverbial well-worn glove.

Her recent guest appearance on the show showcased her ability to communicate her views on a variety of subjects and her standup comedienne ability as is the case with Rosie, makes her as mentioned the perfect fit. She is sassy, impertinent, funny and very talented.

Some Whoopie quotes:

"I am where I am because I believe in all possibilities."

"Normal is nothing more than a cycle on a wash machine."

"I don't have pet peeves, I have whole kennels of irritation”

"We're here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark.”

"And I don't believe that I have to stay on one side of the fence or the other. I don't believe that there is any good career move or bad career move. I believe there are only the things that make me happy. "


Writers & Friends
www.jrslater.com/forum

ROSIE O'DONNELL BIDS ADIEU TO "THE VIEW"

NOTE TO SELF: "The View" won't be the same without Rosie

Never was a big fan of "The View" that is until Rosie O'Donnell stopped by and stayed for a year. Although some would say she's over-opionated and abrasive, I found her refreshing and a definite asset to the show.

Although Meredith Vieira was 'okay', once she moved on, the show just kind-of was...there, period. No spark and bordering on blechy.

As a former watcher of O'Donnell's talk show, it was personally very uplifting to note her addition to the show. Never shying away from controversy her squabble with "The Donald" for example, made the show that much more watchable and fun. The fact that Trump responded so quickly and negatively to her comments made Rosie's presence a "must watch," reflected in the high ratings she brought to the show.

Can I get excited when Barbara Walters et al voice their opinions about...stuff? Not really. Will I continue to watch the show? Unlikely.

Now Rosie is bidding adieu in June. Too bad but then maybe - just maybe - she'll go back to doing her own talk show and The View will be a distant or pale memory for most of us.


Writers & Friends
www.jrslater.com/forum