Emptying the Notebook

Items I wanted to blog about but didn't get around to:

Politics:

Ed Morrissey talks about his life experience and the similarity with Sarah Palin's family and Bristol Palin's pregnancy.

The big difference is that Ed Morrissey's daughter didn't have to do in the public spotlight.

Betsy Newmark discusses the calculus of picking vice Presidents. Newmark points out the double standard, i.e. that the pick of Biden by Obama "balances" Obama foreign policy inexperience while critics of Sarah Palin not having experience to balance McCain. Newmark notes that most modern Vice Presidents are given a portfolio of issues which matches their expertise--for Palin that will likely be energy, government reform, Native American relations and possible early childhood health (although the latter is likely very specialized, but understandably personal).

Camille Paglia's thoughts on the feminist movement and their vocal denunciations of Sarah Palin might surprise you.

Soccer

Ives Galarcep on the dangers of road games in World Cup Qualifying. Given the performance of top teams in qualifying thus far, that the U.S. has done well on the road in stadiums severly lacking in quality is a good sign.

Soccerlens on the need to democratize FIFA. A more worthy target of reform probably can't be found.

Education

Eduflack talks about seeing an education reform organization passing out literature and making an effort at a Jimmy Buffett concert. Perhaps not the most likely site, but Eduflack's pointers for reform groups are worth noting.

Kevin Carey talks about the latest obstructionism from the Washington (DC) Teachers Union, saying:

The bottom line is that the teaching profession needs to become more attuned to and aligned with the reality of teacher effectiveness, defined as success in helping students learn. There are all kinds of difficult issues to contend with in getting there. But the kind of principled rejection of that idea embodied in this letter will marginalize teachers unions in a way that serves no one well in the end.

At this rate, the WTU will marginalize themselves, making Michelle Rhee's job that much easier.

Bill Ferriter talks about his misgivings about the union salary scale and ideas to cut back its chokehold on teacher compensation. Bill points out that the salary scale benefits him to a certain extent, but that it is much more restrictive when teachers are engaged in self-improvement and evaluation. Ferriter also makes a pitch for the relevance of the National Board Certification, which seems to have a built in impetus for continual improvement by Board Certified teachers.