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The history of human space exploration has a soundtrack. From sentimental love songs to stadium rock and ethereal folk songs to sixties pop, music has been a constant from the very earliest space missions.
At first, tunes from ground control were used to stave off boredom, help astronauts relax or wake them up at the beginning of the day. But in recent years songs have become more personal and astronauts have even begun performing in orbit – using music as a way of communicating the wonders of spaceflight to audiences around the world.
On Monday 6 May, schools and communities across North America will join together for Music Monday - an annual event celebrating the importance of music. This year's official song - ISS (is somebody singing) - has been co-written by astronaut and musician Chris Hadfield, who is currently onboard the International Space Station (ISS). He will also be perfoming the song live from space.
The event is the latest in a long line of firsts from space. Here we countdown thirteen other cosmic "premieres". Our list has been put together with the help of Nasa, the European Space Agency (ESA), the Canadian Space Agency and several astronauts from the Apollo missions right up to the present day.
We have also compiled a BBC Future space playlist on Spotify, featuring some of the selections. However, we know it is by no means definitive. So if you have suggestions for the ultimate space mix tape or know of another "first", head over to our Facebook or Twitter page.
13. First music played to a spacecraft
It is early morning on 12 April 1961. After a sleepless night, Yuri Gagarin has been bussed out to the Baikonur launch pad and helped into his Vostok capsule. Strapped tightly to his couch, with the hatch bolted shut behind him, he now has nothing to do but wait. With his launch delayed by last minute technical glitches, the initial excitement and tension of this historic day is beginning to wear off. In short, the first spaceman is getting a little bored.
Mission control asks him how he is faring and Gagarin suggests that music might help. As the countdown continues, technicians eventually manage to pipe records of Russian love songs into the capsule.
12. First wake-up song played to an astronaut crew
The tradition of waking American astronauts with a song from Earth, instead of an alarm clock, started during the two day Gemini 6 mission in 1965 with a version of Hello Dolly. Since then wake up calls to Gemini, Apollo, Skylab and Shuttle crews have included everything from Beethoven to Bowie (Space Oddity, of course) and Tchaikovsky to 10,000 Maniacs. Pretty much every genre of music is represented in the list, with the exception of thrash metal.
The practice came to an end with the final Shuttle mission in July 2011. But in an effort to make every morning memorable, wake up music during this flight included Viva La Vida by Coldplay, Mr Blue Sky by ELO and Celebration by Kool and the Gang. The crew was also roused by a special message from Elton John and the, inevitable, Rocket Man, a capella rendering of Man on the Moon performed by REM's Michael Stipe; and personal greetings from Paul McCartney and Houston girl Beyonce.
Other memorable wake-up calls to spacefarers have included a message from Captain James T Kirk himself, William Shatner, during the final Discovery mission. Although, thankfully, he did not perform a rendition of his own, unique, version of Rocket Man. Wake-up messages have also been used during the lunar rover missions to Mars, when music is played to rouse control room engineers at the start of another Martian day.
11. First cassette player in space… and first 'lost' cassette in space
"We were the first to take our own music," Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart tells me, "one cassette each." The audio cassette players flown on Apollo had to be specially adapted to stop the tape unravelling in zero gravity. Anyone who's ever rewound a tangled tape with a pencil will understand the issue.
Scheickart's chose a selection of classical music, including British composer Vaughan Williams and American Hovhaness. "My other companions took along more popular music – some country, I recall," he says. "Mysteriously, I was unable to find my cassette until about the ninth day of our 10 day mission. This was notable in that my flight mates happened not to much appreciate my music!"
10. First zero-g dance
Unfortunately, no definitive list was kept of the selections astronauts chose to take with them to the Moon. Apollo 13 Commander Jim Lovell remembers listening "to music from the movies Maroon and 2001 Space Odyssey".
Carl Walker from ESA has spent many years piecing together the playlist from Apollo 12, which includes Suspicious Minds from Elvis Presley and Son of a Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield. It also features several country songs – popular among Apollo astronauts – and a song that led to another space first:
"Everyone's favourite was Sugar, Sugar by the Archies, that was on my tape," recalls Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean. "We would turn the recorder up loud and, floating above our couches, rock and roll to the Music," he says. "A great memory even today."
9. First (and last) duet sung on the Moon
Everyone loves a sing-along but only two men in the history of humanity have taken the opportunity to perform a duet on the Moon. During their four days on the lunar surface Apollo 17 astronauts Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt walked, bounced and drove across the Moon collecting rock samples. But the highlight for viewers came when they burst into song.
Schmitt begins the impromptu rendition by singing "I was strolling on the Moon one day…" before being joined by Cernan. The song soon founders with the next line: "in the merry, merry month of December…May." It completely falls apart when they realise they do not know any more words.
8. First TV soundtrack in space
For today's long duration space missions, most astronauts find music vitally important. "Having some music in your ears is creating your own place to be," says astronaut Cady Coleman. It is also practical, still serving the same purpose as Gagarin's flight of preventing boredom. "On exercise equipment," she says, "I couldn't live without having music."
But despite the fact that astronauts can upload new music from Earth whenever they want, they still put a lot of thought into the tunes they select. Esa astronaut Andre Kuipers' playlist, as uploaded to the ISS, is an interesting case in point. Alongside Holst, Pink Floyd, Snow Patrol and Lou Reed (Satellite of Love, since you ask), there is a fascinating selection of soundtracks.
In addition to the, perhaps surprising, choice of Apollo 13 (where the astronauts nearly get killed), Titanic (where lots of the passengers are killed) and Battlestar Galactica (where the entire human race almost gets killed), there is a wonderful selection of TV cult classics.
These include Barry Gray's compositions from Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds Space 1999 and the opening titles from UFO – the series where Earth is under attack from aliens and the actors are memorable, ironically, for being more wooden than puppets. With these wonderful series, Gerry Anderson inspired many budding astronauts, so it is fitting that this music has now been played in orbit.
7. First Flemish rock music
When he became the first European commander of the International Space Station (ISS), Belgian Frank De Winne took particular care to make sure his country's music was properly represented in orbit.
"I had a lot of Belgium rock bands," De Winne says. "I like good rock music."
By the time of his 2009 flight, cassettes, records, and even CDs, had been superseded by MP3s. "You can have iPods or recordings on your laptops," he explains. "The music is recorded for you and sent up to you on the Space Station."
As with the Apollo missions, listening to music often remains a communal experience. "Around the table we always had some music playing in the evening," he says. "It was the task of every astronaut in turn to choose the music."
And De Winne can also boast another musical first…
6. First stadium tour from orbit
"[U2 lead singer] Bono approached Nasa and wanted to do something with the European guy on the space station," De Winne explains. "I happily obliged because I also had U2 music with me on the space station, and it's a great band of course."
The idea was that De Winne would appear on screen during sell-out concerts being staged around Europe. However, the astronaut had reservations. "Me singing a song is not a good idea for a large audience. With my talents, the stadium would empty very quickly!"
Instead, De Winne ended up conveying video greetings and reciting poems from space. "It was an opportunity to show to the world that the space station exists and we were doing something good for the future of humanity."
5. First music transmitted from another planet
In August 2012, will.i.am's Reach for the Stars was transmitted 1,100 million km (700 million miles) across space from the Curiosity rover on Mars. The lyrics aimed at inspiring young people to…reach for the stars.
The catchy tune was backed by a $10 million schools initiative from the musician's foundation. Speaking at the song's first public performance from the red planet, he said: "I know my purpose is to inspire young people, because they will keep inspiring me back."
4. First music to leave the Solar System
There has been some debate recently over whether Voyager One has left the Solar System yet but it is certainly getting close. Strapped to the side of each of the Voyager spacecraft are golden records with a handy diagram of instructions about how to play them.
The tracks on these disks were carefully chosen to communicate the sounds of Earth to any aliens. They include recordings ranging from babies crying to the blast-off of a Saturn 5 Moon rocket. They also feature music from Bach and Mozart as well as Peruvian panpipes and Azerbaijani bagpipes.
3. First instruments flown in space
Early on, it seems, astronauts were not just content with listening to music. Instead, they began to take instruments with them. The first instruments believed to have been flown into space were a harmonica and bell on Gemini 6 in December 1965. They were used by astronauts Walter "Wally" Schirra and Tom Stafford to perform Jingle Bells.
Since then, plenty of others have flown. For example, Nasa astronaut Cady Coleman took three flutes and a penny whistle into space during her last mission to the ISS in 2011. "I brought other people's flutes with me," says Coleman. "I feel very strongly that no-one goes on a journey like this alone, that we all take other people with us, and so to be able to share the journey by taking other people's instruments up as well was something that I really wanted to do."
Coleman says she was so busy when she was on the station that she was not able to play as much as she wanted. However, when she did, she would sit in the Cupola surrounded by windows looking down on the Earth.
"It's such a fantastical thing to be looking out of the window and to see the Earth from that perspective. When I hear some of that music, it takes me back to what it felt like to play at the same time."
To see Coleman in action watch this amazing duet from space (another space first) with Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson.
Coleman is not in fact the first astronaut to take a flute into space. That honour goes to Ellen Ochoa who played her flute on the Shuttle in 1993.
2. First cosmic folk band
Coleman is a member of astronaut folk music band Bandella, which also includes current ISS Commander Chris Hadfield. Being away from his fellow band members has not stopped Hadfield from performing with them. A talented singer and guitarist, he has appeared via video from space at several Bandella gigs. He has also duetted from space with folk group the Chieftains and with Canadian band Barenaked Ladies accompanied by a children's choir (I defy you not to be moved by these videos).
Other space station performers have included Esa astronaut Thomas Reiter, who played classical guitar on Russian space station Mir.
1. First space orchestra… waiting to happen
The ISS currently boasts a Yamaha keyboard and a Ukulele, although it is not clear if they are getting much use. Nasa astronaut Don Pettit also recently made a didgeridoo out of the station's vacuum cleaner (Incidentally, Pettit's wife sings in Bandella). Perhaps it is only a matter of time before the first track conceived, written and played in space is recorded by the first space orchestra.
Do you know of any other space music firsts? Or do you have suggestions for songs we should add to our Spotify playlist? If you would like to comment on this story or anything else you have seen on Future, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter.


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From the Blog
How to make the Apple TV 3D Button in HTML, CSS, and JSSeptember 10, 2015
If you pay close attention to user interfaces you may have noticed that the primary menu and movie/tv cover art on the new and soon to be released (in october) apple tv are three dimensional. The practical purpose of which is that it helps you sense where your position in the swipe controlled user interface […]
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I'm a Web Designer and Developer living in Madison, Wisconsin. I specialize in creating modern and enriching user expieriences for the web and other graphical mediums.A Bit More About MeMy Bio My WorkPortfolio
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subset: commoncrawl


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4 lbs yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced
2 quarts beef stock
1/3 cup vermouth
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
6 sprigs thyme (tied together)
2 bay leaves
to serve:
bread rounds (day old slices of a baguette or artisan white does well)
shredded Gruyère (I used cave aged Gruyère)
Heat the olive oil and butter in large skillet or saucepan. Add the onions. It is okay if they are mounded high in the pan, they will cook down quickly. Cover and cook the onions until just beginning to soften, stirring occasionally so they cook evenly. Stir in the balsamic and remove the lid. Cook until the onions are caramelized, stirring very occasionally, about 40 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the vermouth. Add the stock, salt, pepper, bay leaves and thyme. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and thyme. Bake the bread and cheese on a baking sheet for 5 minutes at 350 and transfer them to the top of the soup. Alternatively, divide the soup among oven safe bowls. Top with a slice or two of bread and sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 10 minutes at 350. If you have broiler safe bowls and a roomy broiler, top with bread and cheese and broil until the cheese melts.
Note: I wanted to speed up the dinner process so I caramelized the onions and deglazed the pan in the morning and then refrigerated them until I was ready to make dinner. You could do this the night before if desired. Follow the rest of the directions as written about.


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Decks and Patios
Adding a deck or patio to your home can drastically improve the overall look, feel, and quality of your home. Decks and patios create a great addition to any home, allowing for more use and enjoyment of your yard and outdoor living areas. If you are a homeowner and are looking to maximize the use of your property or expand your property without destroying your home, a deck or patio may be the way to go.
If you enjoy having company over, adding a deck or patio to your home can be a great way to expand space for entertaining. When you choose Chester County Siding Services for your new deck or patio build we will work with you to customize a deck or patio that suits you best.
Making Your Dreams A Reality
When you are considering the building and installation of a new deck or patio chances are you have a specific vision in mind. If you want your vision to be brought to a reality, you need a deck and patio contractor with years of experience in the industry. Serving the area with high quality and experienced services, Chester County Siding Services promises you that our expert contractors will do what they can to make your deck or patio dream a reality.
Improving your home and keeping you happy are our top priorities. With over three decades in the industry helping homeowners get the most out of their homes we truly believe we are the best around for all your patio and deck needs. Our highly trained and skilled employees will work side by side with you from start to finish to make sure all of your needs are met and that you are satisfied with the end results of your patio or deck project.


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What Robot Strippers Say About Sexism and Tech
Two robot strippers that made an appearance at a strip club in Las Vegas during the CES technology show have raised questions about gender diversity in the tech industry.
While it was a classic Vegas stunt to draw in gawkers from the world's largest tech convention, their appearance struck a nerve among women who've been speaking up against sexual harassment and for greater participation in the tech industry.
CES organizers say only about 20 percent of this year's attendees were women, along with just two of the 15 keynote speakers.
Organizers said the show had no affiliation with the strip club or the robots and have promised to redouble efforts to add women's voices to the speaker lineup next year.
Copyright Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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The average Windows user would probably never consider using a file manager other than the one built into the operating system—Windows Explorer. But, TR Dojo viewers aren't average Windows users. They like to optimize, customize, and just plain tinker with their computers, especially the operating system. Well, during this TR Dojo episode, I discuss five, free file managers that you can use instead:
For those who prefer text to video, click the View Transcript link below the video player window or check out Jack Wallen's article, "Five free replacements for Windows Explorer," on which this video is based. You can also sign up to receive the latest TR Dojo lessons through one or more of the following methods:
Bill Detwiler has nothing to disclose. He doesn't hold investments in the technology companies he covers.
Full Bio
Bill Detwiler is Managing Editor of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop support specialist in the social research and energy industries. He has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Louisville, where he has also lectured on computer crime and crime prevention.


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I'll throw my hat in the ring for the Berliner Weisse presentation.
Quote from: AmandaK on August 29, 2012, 04:54:54 PMI'll throw my hat in the ring for the Berliner Weisse presentation.I'm enjoying the Berliner Weisse one right now. But I'm a BW fan and just began dabbling with this style.
I'd say Michael Fairbrother's Mead Excellence was my favorite, but some of that is because I was there drinking his awesome mead. Best one to read/listen to now? I'd say Greg Doss' Exploring Fermentation Attenuation is my current vote. Still have to listen to a few of them though.
...and really taken aside at how "little" extra cell count a 1L yeast starter produces compared to what I thought and was told it did.


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|Episode Description
|Monday, Feb 11, 2013 - 5:30 AM
Mainstream Christian Music - On Sunday February 10, Grammy Awards will be given to the top performers in music, including the genres of Gospel and Contemporary Christian music. Kim Lawton looks at the growth in Christian music, with strong sales and new success in the mainstream charts and interviews leading Christian recording artists--and 2013 Grammy nominees--TobyMac and rapper Lecrae. The Life of Dorothy Day - A radical and an anarchist who was arrested often for her protests against war and injustice, Dorothy Day founded the Catholic Worker movement 80 years ago, in 1933. D
|More on WORLD (MT)
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Melania Trump channels Jackie Kennedy in Ralph Lauren outfit
Melania Trump channels Jackie Kennedy in Ralph Lauren outfit
Melania Trump stepped out in a powder blue Ralph Lauren outfit that hearkened back to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' iconic style.
She also wore matching shoes and gloves.
Her look drew comparisons to the powder blue outfit Jackie Kennedy wore to her husband's inauguration in 1961.
Ralph Lauren also did many of former first lady Hillary Clinton's suits.
The brand declined to comment on how the Ralph Lauren Collection came together, whether they offered the powder blue skirt ensemble or if Trump chose it herself.
Florinka Pesenti, vice president of fashion and PR communications for the brand, said Ralph Lauren Collection is the brand's most expensive label.


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Huntington CEO & Co-founder Eileen Huntington featured guest on "CEO in 10" podcast
- Our Story
- Why Huntington
- Steps to Ownership
- Training & Support
- Available Markets
- News & Events
- Pre-Qualify
Huntington Learning Center, the nation's leading tutoring and test prep provider with more than 300 locations across the country, is pleased to announce that Anne Huntington has been appointed to its board of directors.Read More
Huntington Learning Center CFO Jim Emmerson was recognized by NJBIZ as the CFO of the Year for private companies with revenues up to $50 Million for 2018.
Click here to read more about this great honor.Read more
Huntington Franchisee Kathy Segmuller was honored by the International Franchise Association as the 2018 Franchisee of the Year.
Read more
Huntington management team members, including our founding family, accept 2018 Franchisee Satisfaction Award from Franchise Business Review at the IFA Convention in Phoenix.
Click here to read more about this and other awards.Read more
Co-founder and CEO Eileen Huntington named 2017 IFA Entrepreneur of the Year at the International Franchise Association annual convention.
Click here to read more about this accolade.Read more
Huntington Learning Center named Finalist at 2017 New Jersey Family Business of the Year Awards by New Jersey Business Magazine.
Click here to read about this latest achievement.
Huntington Learning Center Owner Len Silverman named International Franchise Association's 2017 Franchisee of the Year
Click here to read more about Len's Success.READ MORE


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This new support group is aimed at survivors of abuse, rape and violence of a sexual nature, including incest, inappropriate touch and groping without consent and sexual harassment during one's childhood, youth or adulthood.
The mission is to offer a healthy and safe environment where no judgment or comparison is made for those who suffer in silence, who feel they have no power and no hope in dealing with their abuse(s). Today, they wish to take the necessary steps towards healing and internal liberation in order to regain their balance, their power, their self-respect and self-love.
Do you find yourself frozen with terror, fear, shame and guilt in the face of your abuse(s) and your abuser(s)?
Have you become numb, fearful, and angry, always on guard, ready to do whatever it takes to protect yourself and survive?
Are you caught in a vicious circle in which you hate and punish yourself and are repulsed by your own body, while at other times, you are able to love yourself and function in a daily routine, but you relapse repeatedly?
Have you seen yourself hiding from the world, your family and your friends, refusing invitations and avoiding certain situations because you feel inferior and misunderstood?
Believe me. I understand. We believe you!
Are you on a waiting list to receive health services, therapy sessions or supportive care and attention from regional support centres and non-profit organizations for your abuse(s)?
The purpose of Solidary Group: We believe you! is to offer a journey on a path that will lead to awareness and comprehension of the various aspects of abuse affecting everyday life through interactive sessions. This is done in strict confidentiality and respect in view of the participants' limitations regarding their abuse(s). All participants will have to adhere to a code of ethics and confidentiality beforehand in order to create a secure space for all. Participants can take part fully or simply listen and collect keys of transformation. Listed below are some of the suggested themes:
- States of mind
- Messages/Words
- Family/Childhood
- Emotions
- Behaviour patterns/Choices
- Relationships
- Vicious circle
- Clear boundaries
- Path to self-love, healing and internal liberation
Move a toe, take the first step, and dare to get on the path and join other survivors who share the same life experiences as you. Come forge a new road leading to awareness in order to regain confidence and self-respect.
Mondays - March 12 to June 11, 2018 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
TEAL – Mind, Body, Wellness Clinic, 570 Montreal Road, next door to the TD Bank
Suggested cost: $15
Facilitator: Josée Lacroix, a sexual abuse survivor and numb 35 years is presently is a``Vibrant``, resilient and determined woman at peace in relation to her incestuous abuse at the age of 12 by her father, a physician. A Catalyst for Well-Being, her passion is healing, personal and spiritual development and self-actualization. She now wishes to help those, who like her, have lived similar experiences and is eager to undertake a journey back to healing and a healthy lifestyle.
You matter! Welcome!
You wish to make a difference in your community? In view of the recent and numerous denunciations, make a donation to help these four non-profit organizations in the region:
- Centre for Treatment of Sexual Abuse and Childhood Trauma (CTSACT)
- Sexual Assault Support Centre of Ottawa (SASC)
- Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre (ORCC)
- Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime (CRCVC) in Ottawa
Please send your donation directly to the organization(s) or by mail at:
15 Montclair Street
P.O. Box 30011
Gatineau, Quebec
All donations are welcome. Thank you!
* Note: These awareness sessions do not, at any time, under any circumstance, replace the help that you are receiving from a support centre counsellor, from your family physician or through psychiatric or psychological sessions or through medication. Please continue already established interactions with your health specialists and taking your prescribed medication throughout your internal awareness process.*
I wish to thank all my counsellors, all women, who provided me with their support on the road to healing and recovery. For me, you have been an unwavering source of strength which I continue to tap into for support.


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Public sector consultants ASI Government announced on April 23 the appointment of Renny DiPentima to the company's board of directors.
The former president, CEO and board director of SRA International Inc., DiPentima has more than 40 years of experience in the public and private sectors. He also serves on several governmental and corporate boards, including a private equity firm which he advises on investments in the government services sector, according to the ASI announcement.
Prior to joining SRA in July 1995, DiPentima was CIO and deputy commissioner for systems at the Social Security Administration, responsible for managing all of SSA's information processing and data and voice communication systems.
Meanwhile, DiPentima served on numerous task forces and commissions, including chairing the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Improvement Team as part of the President's National Performance Review initiatives.
DiPentima earned a B.A. from New York University, M.A. from George Washington University, Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, and completed the Program for Senior Managers at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
About the Author
David Hubler is the former print managing editor for GCN and senior editor for Washington Technology. He is freelance writer living in Annandale, Va.
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Donna M. (Moshier) Parise, 55, passed away November 12, 2012 at Rhode Island Hospital. She was the beloved wife of Arthur D. Parise.
Born in Providence, she was a beloved daughter of Marguerite (Lanni) Catanzaro and the late John A. Moshier. Donna was a communicant of Saint Peter Church. Donna was a devoted wife and mother who dedicated her life to her children.
She was the loving mother of Gina M., Christine A., Arthur D. Jr., and Michael C. Parise; cherished sister of John A. Moshier Jr., Debra L. Albanese, Joseph R. Moshier, and the late Stephen P. Moshier.
According to Donna's wishes, her funeral and burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Seven Hills Foundation, 81 Hope Ave., Worcester, MA, 01603. Information and condolences, visit TheQuinnFuneralHome.com.


text:
The rate of abortions in the United States fell by 5%, the largest single-year decrease in a decade, researchers for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
The decline is outlined in the annual abortion surveillance data for the year 2009, the latest available. It was published on Wednesday in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
About 18% of all pregnancies in the United States end in abortion, the CDC noted. Factors from the availability of abortion providers, state laws, the general economy and access to health services including contraception, can all influence the abortion rate, according to the CDC. An important way to reduce abortions is to eliminate unwanted pregnancies.
"Despite these multiple influences, given that unintended pregnancy precedes nearly all abortions, efforts to reduce the incidence of abortion need to focus on helping women avoid pregnancies that they do not desire," the survey states. "Providing women and men with the knowledge and resources necessary to make decisions about their sexual behavior and use of contraception can help them avoid unintended pregnancies."


text: At the Battle of Germantown on October 4, 1777, during the American Revolution, British forces in Pennsylvania defeated the American Continental Army under General George Washington (1732-99). After capturing Philadelphia in September 1777, British General William Howe (1729-1814) camped a large contingent of his troops at nearby Germantown. Washington launched a surprise attack on the poorly defended British camp, but his army failed to pull off his complex battle plan. The British drove away the Americans, inflicting twice as many casualties as they suffered. The defeat at Germantown, which came soon after a similar loss at Brandywine, led some prominent Americans to question Washington's leadership. However, despite the losses, many of his soldiers had performed well, and Germantown demonstrated that Washington's once-unskilled army was on its way to becoming the well-trained force that would win the war.


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by Mike Masnick
Mon, Apr 21st 2008 7:21am
Filed Under:
classrooms, internet access, law school, professors, teaching, university of chicago
- Another State Lawmaker Thinks Teachers Should Be Banned From Discussing 'Controversial' Issues
- African Countries Shooting Themselves In The Digital Foot By Imposing Taxes And Levies On Internet Use
- Ajit Pai's Cure For The 'Digital Divide' Looks Suspiciously Like A Giant Middle Finger
- Comcast & The Cable Industry Greets The New Year With A Flurry Of Price Increases
- As Predicted, Cox's Latest Appeal Points To SCOTUS' Refusal To Disconnect Sex Offenders From Social Media
Reader Comments
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boredom is mother of inventionBoring lectures will always cause kids to tune out. I drew pictures so much in my lectures that I switched to majoring in art, because I figured as long as I'm going to be drawing the whole time, I may as well get credit for it!
James, 21 Apr 2008 @ 7:30amThe internet can be used to supplement the Instructor. I sit in a very slow paced Combinatorics class with a foreign professor that is difficult to understand. The class would be utterly unbearable without the supplementary material I look up during class.
Witty Nickname, 21 Apr 2008 @ 7:43am
It does not matter how interesting the lecture is...Porn will win. A full time college course load is 15 hours per week. If these kids can't pay attention to a prof for that long they are never going to be productive employees. (Coming from a guy reading techdirt at work)
Benjie, 21 Apr 2008 @ 9:42am
Re: It does not matter how interesting the lecture is...'A full time college course load is 15 hours per week'. Are you including the homework? my college was 1 lecture hour per credit + 2 homework hours. so a 12 credit load was ~36hours of expected work
Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2008 @ 7:45amReally? I think it is more up to the student than the professor. Not all subjects are exciting, but if you can't put down the internet for 2 hours than you might have some other problems.
FireWolf, 21 Apr 2008 @ 7:48am
Internet during classes is really a no-brainerAs a current college student with an EEE PC, I truly love the internet during classes. It helps me focus on the lecture by pulling up resources with more information than just what the professor is lecturing on, further enhancing my knowledge and interest in the class. If I had to sit on my dead ass and listen solely to the lecture without extra curricular information, I'd die from boredom.
BTR1701, 21 Apr 2008 @ 7:57am
Re: Internet during classes is really a no-brainer> If I had to sit on my dead ass and listen solely
> to the lecture without extra curricular information,
> I'd die from boredom.
Wow, however did we old fogies make it through school without a computer on our laps to entertain us the whole time?
God help us all...
JGM, 21 Apr 2008 @ 8:05am
Re: Re: Internet during classes is really a no-brainerWe actually had instructors that knew how to make a lecture worth listening to?
Charming Charlie, 21 Apr 2008 @ 8:43am
Re: Re: Internet during classes is really a no-brainerAaah, I really love the--Wow, however did we old fogies make it through school without a computer on our laps to entertain us the whole time? God help us all...--good- ol'-days posts. They always present us with two options: 1)human character has fundamentally changed in that last year, decade, century (whenever the good-ol'-days were), or
2)the environment has changed.
Since it's obviously not 1, it must be 2. What has changed in this instance, perhaps, is that the college student of today has grown up in a much more multi-task oriented environment. Perhaps the single, sustained source of information that a lecture can represent is indeed, through no fault of character in the student, a challenge for sustained attention. If you really were enraptured by your lectures all through college, then good for you old fogey, the students of today need a solution, not whiffs of your imagined moral and discipline superiority.
Personally I don't really think that computers are that much of a problem. I don't really think when a student is checking his facebook he's completely consumed by it and missing information from the lecture. I think he's just filling a gap in his brain's attention span that it has grown to accommodate from years of listening to music while studying on a computer with multiple applications and IM windows bouncing around on it. If his school bans his computer he's just going to day dream. Same difference. But maybe halcyon old fogies didn't do that either.
I routinely browse two forums simultaneous and I don't think it affects the quality of my comprehension or contribution if I read some thread about game design before replying to the comments here. It's a habit developed because of environmental constraints (slow internet which encouraged loading one page while reading another) that probably has low costs, but also some benefits.
Now, regarding the issue of the schools being for students because they're paying consumers, I tend to agree with educators on the matter (even if they're old fogies who might not understand being a student anymore). Students are not in the best position to judge what is worthwhile for them in their education. They're free to vote with their dollars and continue the trend of exerting more and more pressure on administrators, but I think in the short term that will shoot them in the foot by decreasing the quality of their education.
Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2008 @ 7:50am
It IS the professorI know that when an instructor is giving a lecture where he just stands behind a podium and just talks endlessly in Ben Stein-esque monotone without interacting with the students or trying to something to engage their attention i would usually surf the internet on the class PC or my laptop text message, or just sometimes drop to desk asleep from boredom, The instructors that engaged me and made the subject interesting had mine and everyone elses attention from start to finish. All these universities seem to forget that they are paid to serve the students not to just simply show up. Taking away the internet is a band aid on the bullet wound that is the lack of quality in america's educational system.
Daniel, 21 Apr 2008 @ 7:54am
First-hand experienceI have some experience with this (I'm in lit class right now), and I believe that the internet helps a lot. It entertains me enough to keep me awake, but also helps me to look up additional information (which I do a lot).
Taking away computers would drastically reduce grades in my school, where our learning is supplemented well by the internet.
w00t for Wikipedia!
Buzz, 21 Apr 2008 @ 7:58am
case by caseMy problem with professors and employers is that they seem indecisive on which they want: effort or results. You'd think results would make them happy, but signs of lacking effort seem to hurt their ego (even if the results are good). If a student can pass all exams and perform as expected, why are the lectures so necessary?
The only time mandatory attendance makes sense is when actual work is being done. For instance, my last English class featured many group assignments, so it made perfect sense to attend all classes (or fail otherwise).
Along these same lines, it really annoys me how people equate paying attention in class to productivity in the work place. They are completely different! For one thing, I am PAID to be productive in the work place (a stark contrast to PAYING to sit and listen to someone talk), and the work place is actually stimulating and demanding.
adidas4275, 22 Apr 2008 @ 9:37am
Re: case by caseAs a 24 year old high school teacher, who is a tech/pc enthusiast, i can say that teachers/profs should not care only about results. Life is not about results, it is about the process of getting to the results. People are to result oriented. Scoring well on tests is not what life is about. Life is about learning, you can get an A on a test w/o learning anything. Grad school expecially should not be about the grade/test but rather more about what the student learns. I teach in a tech oriented school and we monitor web access strictly, students are not able to control what they look at or what they are paying attention to. Short attention spans are not a new thing, but student need to learn how to pay attention.
It is not about a boring professor/teacher, its about personal responsibility. remember this is not coming from a 65 year old Ivory tower Law Professor, but rather a 24 year old teacher who graduated college 4 years ago.
I comes down to personal responsibility, and it is the responsibility of a student to learn, not check their facebook while in class.
Anonymous Coward, 22 Apr 2008 @ 10:53am
Re: Re: case by caseLife is about the process of getting to the results? I'll be sure to tell that to my boss the next time he is saying that "we are all about results here". Are you judged on how your kids learn, or the scores/results they get on the state mandated exam? Or tell that to the student trying to get a full ride to an ivy league school and is based largely on their test scores and their grades.
You can't let students flit through elementary and high school with the misguided belief that results don't matter because they will be rudely awakened when they apply to colleges.
You sound like one of those fuzzy math proponents that has wrecked a couple generations of students and put America way down on the list when it comes to our math scores.
FormerGrad, 21 Apr 2008 @ 8:02am
Not so sureWhile I'm all for making lectures more interesting, unfortunately, not all topics or particular lectures are made to 'stimulate' and/or 'excite' the students. Welcome to the real world! I attended graduate school before laptops were even around and, I assure you, I did not 'die' from boredom. I gutted my way thru the classes (some more interesting than others) and studied my rear-end off. Students are not entitled to be entertained in the classroom. Higher education surely needs to compete for its student base, but they also have the right to control the quality of their classroom in ways that they see fit. Removing the internet is hardly 'harming' the student's ability to learn. However, they may lose students because of it, but that's their right.
Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2008 @ 8:05am
Re: Not so sureThe students should have more "rights" than the school, as the students are the ones paying them. If there were no students the professors wouldn't even have a job so they damn well better do what they can to make the students happen and keep them coming back.
FormerGrad, 21 Apr 2008 @ 8:18am
Re: Re: Not so sureReally? When you say 'rights', what do you mean exactly? While banning the internet may seem extreme, there are many times when the type of material (especially graduate level) requires you to pay attention to the lecture. Once again, I'm all for each institution doing whatever it can to enhance the educational process. What bothers me is some people acting as if you can't learn anything without having some form of entertainment to go along with it.
Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2008 @ 8:40am
Re: Re: Re: Not so sureNobodys talking about a right to be entertained, just the right to receive a quality education.
Jason, 21 Apr 2008 @ 9:09am
Re: Re: Re: Not so sureI'm a current grad student, and I do not feel like I have to be entertained to learn. However, for me, the lectures which I have a better chance of remembering are the ones where I am somehow brought into the lecture. I don't mean simply discussing the topic. While that helps, the ones that truly stick in my head are the ones where a professor challenges me in some way and gets me to start thinking about the topic in a critical manner.
As an example, when I was a junior undergraduate student, I had a class called "Computer and Society" which studied the impact of computers (and technology as a whole) on society, particularly the professional world. We were talking one day about how technology changed the way people were managed. Our professor gave us a situation to play out in our heads.
The situation was that we were the sole programmer on a project whose customer was a bank. The customer, after getting a demonstration was very happy with the work, and would be getting delivery of the code in the next week. Before delivery of the project, we were fired as the company no longer needed us. The question then posed was, "what would be your reaction in this situation?" Most of the class didn't think much of it and just said they would look elsewhere. Our professor then told us about a guy in the same situation. What he did was introduced some bugs into the code after he left (they didn't revoke his clearance). The code was spaghetti code and only he knew what to do, and had the only backup at home. He ransomed the code back to the company back for a big payout.
Our class spent the whole hour and a half talking about this one situation. Everyone participated, and whenever I bring up the story, my friends still remember the lesson. The point of this long post is that, students don't need to be entertained to learn, they just need to be engaged in a way that'll make them interested in the subject matter.
Augy, 24 Apr 2008 @ 12:14am
Re: Re: Not so sureAt state universities, most of the salary of profs come from state tax payers, and their ultimate bosses are the state legislators. Students only pay a small part of the cost of their college education through their tuition. And legislatures want the students to graduate as soon as possible, to reduce the cost to taxpayers.
Chris, 21 Apr 2008 @ 8:05am
Who cares?What I don't understand, is why they care? When I didn't care much for a prof or their lectures... I just didn't show up to class as often. And as long as you're getting good grades, who gives a crap where you are physically or mentally during a lecture? (As long as typing isn't too loud)
Another classic example of idiots making decisions without understanding the problem. Take away the internet access... they'll start using it on their phones. The problem is square, boring profs who are most educated in that topic, but don't have crap all for teaching skills (no ed degree required).
Danno, 21 Apr 2008 @ 8:09amHere's my tack as someone who's recently come out of a college with WiFi in every lecture hall/classroom: It does suck your attention away.
Even if the class is interesting enough, it's so easy to find something distracting or to chat with friends on the internet that people who actually would find their Professor's lecture worthwhile will stop paying attention. I know that I did.
Eventually *I* got fed up with not remembering what the Professor was saying that I just stopped bringing my laptop to class. Sure I couldn't look up a reference or look for extra material, but the Professor was usually going fast enough that I wouldn't be able to keep up with their lesson if I was screwing around trying to figure something out on my own; so I started asking more questions and taking better notes (on paper) so I could figure out stuff online, after class.
I know this is a bit of a Luddite-like take on things, but I really felt more involved in class when I didn't have the laptop there. I'm sure if I had a whole lot of self-discipline I could've had my laptop and eaten it too (to turn a phrase), but I don't, so just not bringing the damn thing ended up working better.
I don't really see what's wrong with that. Connectivity doesn't have to be a part of *everything* in modern life... just most things.
Haywood, 21 Apr 2008 @ 9:02am
Re: +1I graduated in 2004, and even captivating speakers have a hard time competing with the internet. 1 prof did pull the plug, and it made the class better, I was 4.0 in that class anyhow, but many others who weren't saw an increase.
Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2008 @ 8:10am
Prof likes itI teach a class with a lot of present day examples. I like it when students look up things during class -- they can add to the conversation and they can look up what I'm blanking on and correct me.
Luke, 21 Apr 2008 @ 8:15am
I wouldn't go so far as saying it hurtsHaving net in the classroom can be both a boon and a burden.
Being able to grab the profs. notes during class so you can reference written material, check email (I get jumpy when I can't check it every 5-10 minuets), make arrangements with group members (my calendar is web-based), or if the guy is going on about something that's not directly related to me passing the upcoming test then I can do something else that I deem productive until it's time to listen again.
On the other hand your nieghbors and probably the prof. only want you to be looking at the teacher.
I went to Rose-Hulman and every student is required to have the school approved laptop in order to register for Freshman classes (program enacted in 1995). So my views on laptops with network access in the class are a little colored.
Ric, 21 Apr 2008 @ 8:19amI feel it wise to point out that there are some classes that don't have computers open in them. Those are the classes with teachers worth a damn. If I wanted to read the book, i would just read the book. I don't need it spoon fed at lecture as well. 90% of classes are taught off publisher's powerpoint slides, which are strait out of the book. Those kids with the laptops are there for the pop quiz/attendance grade requirements the Professor instated to keep class attendance up.
Anyone complaining about student behavior should go sit in on some classes at the local university.
put the lecture online...as a podcast and use class time for group work, projects, discussions, Q&A, etc. you know, stuff that engages the student and teaches them something more than names and dates.
as any pencil and paper gamer will tell you, getting any number of people in the same room at the same time is a real feat of logistics that shouldn't be wasted on one-way communication.
John, 21 Apr 2008 @ 8:28am
Kids want degrees not learningTake it from a fellow student at a UC
Just because these are graduate level coourses, doesn't mean the kids are anymore interested in the subject then other students.. they just want the degree.
Knowledge doesn't matter... finishing the requirements DOES I've verified this with students in a lot of different majors going to multiple universities. The fact is.. you don't have to learn MUCH to get a degree.. just get help from fellow students just enough to get a good grade...get thru your classes and get a degree. Paying attention is unnecessary So if requirements are more important then knowledge..why NOT surf the internet????
John, 21 Apr 2008 @ 8:36am
Lectures kill learningAs a student studying education as part of my minor, I can tell you that the educational system cannot expect all students to come to class with an intrinsic desire to learn. Class doesn't have to be entertaining, but it should be fulfilling and a learning experience. There is no longer a need for lectures because so much information is online. If a teacher really wants to supplant information from a textbook, they should write a blog that accompanies the class. If I could find the same information from a textbook or wikipedia as I could find from a professor, that prof is doing a poor and redundant job. Instead, colleges need to do away with lecture halls and instead focus on smaller classrooms for all classes. The purpose of education is learning, not getting a degree. A degree is meant to reflect actual learning, which unfortunately does not happen as efficiently or often as it should at many American colleges.
Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2008 @ 8:42am
Re: Lectures kill learningAMEN!
Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2008 @ 8:45am
Attention in ClassIn a graduate level course there shouldn't be any effort from the instructor to hold the attention of the students.
At that level, the only purpose of an instructor is to relay information, and answer relevant questions. It's up to the student to pay attention and comprehend, if they aren't motivated enough on their own to do this they should fail.
Robyn, 21 Apr 2008 @ 8:47am
Stop Whining!!!Seriously did some of you lose your ba-ba?
Yes, the internet is a tool and you could use it for looking up extra material. However most students DON'T limit it to this and the downfalls are the following:
- Some classes are actually boring, and you have to learn them anyways. It's not superprofessor's job to make every aspect of patent law interesting. Some of it's not. Deal.
- You have someone with a PhD who has spent hours creating and refining the lecture being given. They have spent hours pouring over primary literature on the subject and digesting it so that it makes a coherent lecture. If you have a question or want more information, ASK THEM! Asking in-class may allow the prof to get to make the format more interactive. Wikipedia is not ALWAYS right, because the true masters of the subject are busy trying to talk to you and not dinking around editing wiki articles. Also, asking allows the professor to figure out how to improve the lectures so that it is clearer in future years. An education degree is no match for experience, and feedback helps!
- Asking the prof things allows you to have a discussion and learn how to answer questions yourself. Maybe starting a debate in class by asking the right questions makes Steve over there voice a very valid point that makes everyone go hmmm.
- Building rapport with the professor is what really gets you that recommendation letter, outside opportunities, and a little leeway if something happens and you need help or an extension on a paper or something. Or research opportunities, scholarships etc. I had a prof tell me he chose me (a freshman bio major) for a fully funded (with stipend, airfare to a remote location, a 4 br apt, food etc) summer research project because of all the applicants, mainly of which were seniors, I was the only one who asked any questions, dumb or smart.
- Okay, so you're being good and just looking up information, but the kid in front is playing WoW and Susie behind him keeps getting distracted by all the moving lights.
- Yes, you still get good grades. Whoopee. You and the rest of the class have set the curve lower. The professor couldn't get past the boring stuff to get to that lecture they really wanted to do where it gets interesting.
So in short- you can look at it like your tuition doll ars are only good for crazy fast internet and that little paper at the end with that sophmoric why-do-we-have-to-learn-this attitude and connections OR you can look at it where you're paying people with knowledge to school you. Maybe your heavily-accented boring prof did their graduate work with the freaking master of the field and if if he likes you he'll share that connection and get you the exposure to lead to that fantastic job.
Maybe if you had taken the advantages you paid for you'd be writing for slashdot, cnet, G4 or CNN instead of whining on techdirt. :P
Aneel, 21 Apr 2008 @ 8:59am
Boring...My high school teacher used to say that if you're doodling during class, that's good cause you're probably paying attention. I wasn't much of an artist, but I tried it and it worked. I actually paid more attention while I was drawing in class. I think this is kind of how computers work in a college environment. Some students may not understand what the hell the professor is talking about and may just use the internet to look up or get more information about what is being discussed. Besides no one is forcing you to be in college. If you pay for it, then it should be up to you to pay attention.
Brian, 21 Apr 2008 @ 9:14am
Typical anti-authoritarian slant"The professor is in charge, so it's his duty to entertain his students."
Wrong. Not everything is entertaining. Lots of subjects are grinding hard work without a lot of "zazz." Lots of students have short attention spans, regard certain classes as "boring" or curriculum-requirement stuff they aren't interested in.
You're amazingly quick to place the blame, here.
Stefan Mai, 21 Apr 2008 @ 9:15amThey always present us with two options: 1)human character has fundamentally changed in that last year, decade, century (whenever the good-ol'-days were), or
2)the environment has changed.
3) Culture has changed.
(DISCLAIMER: I'm 19.)
Jonathon Pettimore, 21 Apr 2008 @ 9:21amFunny that I read this in my VHDL class
Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2008 @ 9:21am
Kids just don't care...I'm a 3rd year university student, majoring in IT. Our classes/lectures are small (under 30 people), and the profs interact with us a lot. The subjects are quite interesting for most of us. But even then, more than half the class surfs Facebook and YouTube during the lectures, instead of paying attention to the prof. Needless to say, they haven't learnt much, and cutting their access to the net would have helped them no doubt.
There have been boring profs for as long as there have been universities, I'm sure. Having to put up with that boredom is nothing new to students; it's just a new challenge that you have to overcome, and not just give up and run off to have fun on the net instead.
Lectures, not the internet is the problemTraditional lecture-based classed are growing further apart from the educational needs of a modern student. The fact is that we do have the internet available and we do have the means to make classes more meaningful than just cramming a bunch of facts. I think every educational field could benifit from further computer integration. The issue to me seems that classes are not engaging. If the teachers were using modern technologies to re-emphasize the content, people would likely pay better attention.
Another thing that these educational leaders need to grasp is that today's college student grew up with the idea of multi-tasking. We sat in front of a TV to do our homework and one single mode of input seems deficient to us at this point. I for one am not satisfied to just listen to a lecture. Just because I keep hitting the stumble upon button does not mean I am not paying attention to the lecture- just paying attention to the lecture AND using stumble upon.
Lectures, not the internet is the problemTraditional lecture-based classed are growing further apart from the educational needs of a modern student. The fact is that we do have the internet available and we do have the means to make classes more meaningful than just cramming a bunch of facts. I think every educational field could benifit from further computer integration. The issue to me seems that classes are not engaging. If the teachers were using modern technologies to re-emphasize the content, people would likely pay better attention.
Another thing that these educational leaders need to grasp is that today's college student grew up with the idea of multi-tasking. We sat in front of a TV to do our homework and one single mode of input seems deficient to us at this point. I for one am not satisfied to just listen to a lecture. Just because I keep hitting the stumble upon button does not mean I am not paying attention to the lecture- just paying attention to the lecture AND using stumble upon.
Concerned, 21 Apr 2008 @ 9:40amI think this whole discussion is pointless. The classroom setting requires two kinds of responsibility: responsibility on the part of the instructor to teach the material, and to do it in a way that the students are actually interested in the material and will learn it, and then there's the responsibility of the students to set aside distractions and learn the material they are supposed to in order to receive their degree. Both sides fail at some point or another.
Now, if the instructors or the school see the need to cut off internet access in order to maintain order in the classroom, that's completely up to them. While the students may actually pay for the internet service somewhere in their tuition, the school still owns the network, and they can decide exactly how and when the students can access it, and what content be accessed by it. If internet content is not required for the class, they have every right to disable it during class. It doesn't matter what the advantages or disadvantages are, it's still their right, because they own the network.
That being said, the internet can indeed be a valuable learning tool, if used properly. If the schools were to embrace the concept, they could potentially enhance the learning experience to the point of getting students more interested in the topics at hand. But ultimately, it's not necessary, and instructors have plenty of other methods at their disposal for keeping things lively. Hands-on activities are always better than dull lectures, I can tell you that for sure.
Additionally, if you cut off internet access, you can be sure that the goof-offs will find something else to play with and ignore the class. That goes right back to responsibility on the student's part. If they are goofing off and don't pass, that's their fault. And if they are disrupting the class by doing so, the instructor has the right to remove them from the premises for the benefit of the other students who are trying to learn. That in turn goes back to the responsibility of the instructor to maintain a positive learning atmosphere. Too many people these days expect technology to solve all their management problems, and it simply isn't the answer. Technology is a tool, not a law enforcement agency.
The big picture here is basically that more and more people, especially young adults, are being taught by society that they don't have to take responsibility for their own actions. Too many kids see college as a time to just go wild and party and do whatever they feel like, only to find out later that they would have been better off taking a little responsibility for themselves. Too many good colleges and universities have become nothing more than party houses, and it sickens me to think of what is going on out there these days.
Oh, and if you think I'm an old fogey venting on how things used to be, think again. I just turned 25 today. I graduated with a 2-year AAS degree and 4.0 GPA from a state technical college, and I'm working a steady full-time job doing what I enjoy doing, which I have held for 3 years now. I have never had an alcoholic beverage or smoked any tobacco, a fact which I'm proud of, because I believe that stuff can mess with your head, and probably plays a large part in the "dumbing down" of our society. I believe in taking responsibility for my own well being, and am doing quite well for myself at the moment because of it. And that doesn't mean I don't know how to get out and have fun with family and friends either. I just prefer clean fun, as opposed to wild parties and such that lead to things many people later regret. Anyway, I'm done ranting now. Kudos to you if you're still this comment. I'm glad you took the time to hear my opinion.
Max Powers, 21 Apr 2008 @ 9:57am
Don't Blame the Professors!Besides being discourteous, students are being distracted by using the internet during lectures. If you can't pay attention to a professor for an hour you have many more problems to worry about for your future.
Would you do the same thing at a group meeting at work just because you thought the manager was boring?
Errant Garnish (profile), 21 Apr 2008 @ 10:57am
Re: Don't Blame the Professors!Good point!
My response to the group meeting question: the phenomenon is not limited to the classroom. I work full time in a corporate environment while taking courses in a part time master's degree program. I've seen plenty of both good and bad use of laptops in the classroom. And I've seen plenty of good and bad use of blackberries and other devices in the corporate meeting room.
I have been in classes where a professor's question to the class is met with silent response, largely due to mass immersion in reading emails, carrying on IM sessions, checking portfolios, or even watching basketball playoffs.
The point here is not whether professors can deal with students not paying attention; the real issue is that students short change each other by not participating in a community of engaged learners. If students cannot adopt norms on their own that promote learning in class, then maybe the University needs to enforce them by fiat.
That said, turning off Internet access is extreme. It overlooks the real problem (behavior) in targeting the false problem (technology).
Italian Revolutionary, 21 Apr 2008 @ 10:07am
Turning Off Internet In The ClassroomHey...It's a social-moral issue: as authority figures lose status and people in general have no clue how to behave ("'What should I wear when I meet the Pope?' teens want to know."), there are bound to be issues that break along generational boundaries. So,Nu?
I have 30 years of elementary school experience and the primary issues have always been:
1)determine what the children will learn
2)determine how that will happen
3)plan for the success of all students
4)involve the greatest number of learning styles possible
5)be flexible
6)and if someone is f**king off, check to see whether they're learning
My experience is that upper level educators 7-16 can do 1 and 2 exceedingly well and the rest not at all. Consequently most courses suck. That said, a computer in a fourth grade would have fifteen kids around it in a heartbeat.
School Hater, 21 Apr 2008 @ 10:08am
Boring classesI don't know about the average person in college, but I mild A.D.D. that makes it VERY hard to concentrate in boring classes with out drugs. Most of the time, taking my drugs helped me concentrate and have fewer 'brain farts' that left me lost for 1-2 minutes randomly during class, but some classes where just SO boring that taking the drugs made it worse because I'd find something else to concentrate on and lose track of time.
In general though, I hate how tests/quizes are made. From kindergarden to 8th grade i was a C/D student and sucked at math. But once less emphesis was put on english and basic math (memorization and speed drills), I went up to a A-/B+ because I did well in Algebra/Science.
Turns out I can't memorize raw facts worth crap, but I can understand and apply complex ideas/concepts. I failed 5 different history classes in college before I finally passed a retake with a C-. I never missed more than 3 history classes in a given semester and spent about 4-8 hours/week studying. Then there's my major. I almost never studied for any of my classes ~15-30 minutes/week and I got almost all A/Bs.
In a nut shell, my whole life I was told that I would never be anything because my grades where so bad and that I needed to try harder. Now I'm a DB programmer for a company that supplies products and services for over 73,000 schools in North America. TY education system for all positive feed back of my potential
Jesse, 21 Apr 2008 @ 10:13amThis is stupid. Banning computers: many students use them because they are faster typers than writers, or just because it's neater. Banning internet: how should we pull off online slides. Other times, it's useful to get supplemental information when the teacher blows over something that he thinks we already know.
Cowboy, 21 Apr 2008 @ 10:38amIt should be up to the student whether or not they bring a wireless device to class. To all the professors getting angry, at least your students are coming to class! If you don't give us actual information that is educational or useful, you're wasting my time as well as your own.
It's honestly a double standard. Professors want us to attend lecture, take notes, read the book, read supplementary materials, etc., and become experts in everything they're saying. Then, 4 times a semester they want it regurgitated verbatim. If you miss something, well too bad. Some professors complain that we lack depth in our thinking, but they want us to repeat word for word what they've said. They punish us if we don't go to class, but don't give us anything educationally when we do go to class.
Then there are the actual teachers. The professors who teach well and get the subject across in a straightforward manner. Notice I didn't say entertaining. No one said it had to be entertaining, but don't waste my time. I can read your slides, I can read my book. Either add something to it, let me go, or let me check my e-mail.
Robyn, 21 Apr 2008 @ 11:00am
But I'm Multitasking!No you're not, you're distracted. I grew up with all the multitasking skills of doing homework with TV, studying with music, and even Internet in class. I can chat with 14 people at the same time and still reply to email and listen to music and breathe at the same time. It's not really that much of a skill.
There is a virtue in being able to focus, a quality of engaging your whole brain in comprehending something that you would ordinarily consider "too difficult". Even before computers study advice always included: Find yourself a quiet, well-lit, comfortable area free of distractions. Eat well, sleep well, and get regular exercise. It was never (read this book on treadmill, eat while doing math and do your homework with the radio on or on the bus or while looking through catelogs or while reading the newspaper.
Multitasking does not mean you lose the ability to prioritize or focus. Multitasking does not mean surrounded by distractions.
Think of it like this, with a fun example. Say instead of sitting in a "boring" lecture, you're at a movie. What if someone sitting in front of you was dragged there by their boyfriend and pulled out a laptop. How about if the person next to you pulled out a book with a booklight. What if the person waay in the back's phone rings two times? Why don't you want to surf the net while you're there? Maybe you could be looking up behind the scenes info on the actors, plot? Maybe it's a sequel and you want to look up what happened to character X at the end of the last one because you can't remember? Certainly remembering those things would increase your enjoyment of the movie, right? Getting all the information?
Oh, is THAT rude to other paying people around you? IS the movie better when you can focus on it and be absorbed into the cinematic experience? Pictures look clearer when smaller, why is the big screen so much better? You don't even want to be distracted by the black around it?
What if you're giving a presentation to the class about some work you've done, and the teacher doesn't pay attention? Would you like them to grade your papers while watching TV? Then give you a lower grade because it was boring? Maybe they don't WANT to bother working harder on lectures to kids who just sit thereon youtube? They do have papers to write, projects to do, and other professional development aspects to their job that you never see. Maybe those are more fun?
Would you like to try to hold the attention of small children when there's a puppy in the room?
I'm 25, have had computers since I was 9, and had a laptop all through college and part of high school.
I used to be a horrible student. Always multitasking. Did my homework while watching TV, surfing the net, eating, on the bus, while talking to friends on the phone, etc. I got A's because I was smart and managed. I doodled in class, daydreamed, read, and otherwise was allowed to do whatever because I got A's.
I did well in college too. Then I had a bunch of exams on one day and I panicked. Essay tests! I locked myself in a study room at my dorm and worked on refining my notes, studying, practicing explaining. All stuff I hadn't understood that well in class. I focused, and I found I not only finished studying in half the time I thought I would need, I understood it better, was more confident, and had interesting questions to ask the professors. I did ask, and became a favorite student of many of them, who volunteered recommendation letters, introductions, and general opportunities. I decided to continue that focus and began to not only like my classes, I loved them. I had a teacher apologize TO ME that the class was boring because he couldn't get the other students to engage and get to the really interesting stuff. I had him previously for another class and was sorely disappointed things went that way, as he was awesome. I found I changed from a reluctant, quiet A student who managed, to an engaging A student who proceeded to top every curve and often become exempt from finals, provided opportunites, win extra scholarships and find a career path that really engages me.
Yes, I was good at multitasking, but when I took moments to use my whole intellect to focus on something, I was exceptional. When you focus, your brain just starts to absorb and enjoy. No, not everyone is like that, but just as not everyone is going to like the movie, nobody's going to like it if there's distractions abounding. If a movie's good and your phone vibes, do you read the message or see who's calling? No, you mash buttons to shut it up and look afterwards. If you're really into a subject, the same thing happens. And your professor is guiding you into that subject material and giving you that opportunity so the least you can do is sit and listen for an hour or so to find out.
Multitasking reduces passion. A winetaster closes his eyes, you don't text during sex, you turn down the lights during a movie, and you don't play video games while watching youtube.
Multitasking is to make you MORE productive than otherwise. Your computer multitasks so that you can check email while writing a paper without saving, closing, opening, closing, opening, continuing. You can focus on two or more things that require less attention at the same time. But your computer runs the newest games best when you don't leave a movie playing or 100 windows open or the like.
So do you.
Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2008 @ 12:21pmahh, wait until you young whippersnappers get into the real world, i.e. the workplace. If you think your professors and lectures are boring now, wait until you have to sit through a mandatory two hour lecture on ethics, no laptops allowed. Or an eight hour a day, week long course that will get you certification to allow you to do your job.
Boring lectures train you for the real world, except in the real world it's much much worse, especially when your boss pulls you into a four hour long meeting on whatever worthless biz-speak idea is floating around these days. And if you are caught mucking around on the internet during the meeting, you WILL be shown the door.
Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2008 @ 12:41pmThe education system needs to change, the old way of forcing information down our throats so we can regurgitate it during a quiz or exam are useless. Information is so readily available now that no one needs to have everything memorized. Make us think, make us understand something. The american revolution was in 1776 and we beat the british, ok but why was there a revolution? what caused it? You can look up any date or fact anytime with the internet but how about why these things happen? Give students the critical thinking skills to understand the world around them. If you force them to actually use their minds and think they might pay less attention to the flashy lights of the monitor infront of them and pay attention to the professor.
John, 21 Apr 2008 @ 1:00pm
The "real world"?First of all, I feel sorry for any of you who think that boring lectures prepare you for the real world. What does that say for your life? I'm glad you have learned how to assimilate, but as for me, I actually want to make a difference instead of being some cog in a company. If you think that people my age are ready to be complacent members of a workforce, then you all are sorely mistaken. My generation has been given everything it ever wanted (not that this is good). We don't care about seniority, we don't care about fitting in, and we don't care about the perfect lifestyle. I don't care how many phds a teacher has, they don't make someone a good teacher. The cynic in me wants to say that our crappy educational system is good because it prepares people for their inevitably crappy lives. The idealist in me says f that.
Some people want to say that some material is just boring. Well, why would anyone bother to teach something that was not interesting. I've had classes on interesting subjects where I couldn't even stay awake in class, and I've had classes on "boring" subjects where I get excited to go to class. Profs who think that what they have to say is important just because they are profs are severely mistaken.
Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2008 @ 1:13pm
Re: The "real world"?don't feel sorry for us. we've just lived long enough to see how the world really works.
Everyone that is young thinks they will change the world. Remember, the boomers were at woodstock, getting high, experiencing free love, and dreaming of the day when they were in power and make the world a wonderfully peaceful place and buy the world a damn coke.
Cut to today. All those boomers are now in power and nothing has changed. Not one thing. In fact, they are probably a little bit worse than back in the 60's (for America anyways).
Every new generation thinks they will grow up and change the world (except gen x; we were pretty much bitter and cynical from the get go). So don't worry about us old dudes, dream your dreams, for one day, you too will graduate college and your eyes will be opened. And the only reason you don't care about seniority is because it doesn't benefit you. Come back here in 20 years and let us know how you think.
Robyn, 21 Apr 2008 @ 2:16pm
Re: The "real world"?John you just cracked me up. You're adorable.
"We don't care about fitting in"
Seriously? If I don't see one more moppy-headed IPod-wearing messenger bag-slinging facebook account walk past me as I sit here in a top10 University library, I will personally kiss your feet.
No youth cares about seniority. Someone who's been in the biz 20 years SURELY has no clue compared to your "fresh ideas".
Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2008 @ 1:22pmI have attended college before the internet, and after (currently enrolled). The most interesting comment I have heard about this in real life came from a professor who thinks this current assemblage of generations are the first to be able to handle this type of multitasking while in class. He has a PhD in Communications and I'm currently taking his Small Group communications class. This is also one of the only professors I have had in recent years who doesn't use a computer or power point in class. He lectures, you take notes on the relevant stuff. People also use the internet, text, iphone etc in class, but he has come to the conclusion, through his own research, that most students are paying attention to his lecture while occasionally checking email and accepting friend requests.
I don't think it's a big deal either way, some classes I can't reach the network, so I don't. some I can, so I do. I determine what grades I get in the end.
Kevin, 21 Apr 2008 @ 6:01pm
FocusI've grown up in the internet generation to a point (I'm 18), but I wasn't introduced to the internet until I reached high school. I'm graduating soon, one of the top ten students in my class, and although I type about twice as fast as I handwrite (60wpm), I often choose to write papers by hand first. After, I retype them. My AP lit class features 45 minute timed writings, and I doubt I could get through those texting with my friends or if I had a laptop in class.
However, I also engage in a healthy amount of multi-tasking like everyone else. I run several windows at once and read comics while attempting to be productive and listening to music. It gives me the ability to detune most of my senses and focus when I need to. When I row, I put music on. Truth be told, I hear the first ten to twenty seconds of each song and completely tune it out - I have more important things to focus on at the moment.
Working in a theatre, both skills come in handy. Sometimes I need to be able to focus explicitly on one task at a time, but other times I need to be able to be aware of every thing going on around me as my safety could be threatened by falling heavy objects.
Everything in moderation.
Best teachers are students, 22 Apr 2008 @ 1:39pm
Best student are teachersSaying remove internet to keep students attention is like saying taking guns from people will reduce crime. The internet is an information highway... A tool that can be used to highten the learning experience or to reduce it. Ether way the student must deside how to use the tool as well as the professor to deside who to implament... Wonder why internet classes have high passing rates??? Try taking one.
elena, 4 Aug 2008 @ 4:24am
is not a solution...The internet is an information highway..i believe profs should use internet to make their lecture more interesting for the students because students will be more concetrated to the subject ..turning off the computer is not really a solution


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Wednesday, February 8, 2012
What Does Bikenomics Mean To You? (Zine Giveaway)
The winner will be announced next week, and prizes will be given out in person for those in the immediate area, or who can get over to Santa Monica (preferably without a car or personal jet [so we don't disturb the SMO neighbors]). If you would like to contribute to the discussion but exclude your self from the drawing, let me know at the end of your comment.
5 comments:
Bikenomics to me is the 8 thousand or so bucks I save every year by not having a car
- February 8, 2012 at 4:57 PM
- Gary said...
It's slow going in here so far, but I'll toss in that a huge motivating factor for me to sell my car was parking tickets for street cleaning. I barely used it at a certain point, but had to keep moving it, and inevitably forget. The car is a constant ongoing money sink no matter how little you use it. But maintaining and parking a bike is lot less costly.
- February 8, 2012 at 8:37 PM
- EricW said...
A Zen Teacher saw five of his students return from the market, riding
their bicycles. When they had dismounted, the teacher asked the
"Why are you riding your bicycles?"
The first student replied, "The bicycle is carrying this sack of
potatoes. I am glad that I do not have to carry them on my back!"
The teacher praised the student, saying, "You are a smart boy. When
you grow old, you will not walk hunched over, as I do."
The second student replied, "I love to watch the trees and fields pass
by as I roll down the path."
The teacher commended the student, "Your eyes are open and you see the world."
The third student replied, "When I ride my bicycle, I am content to
chant, nam myoho renge kyo."
The teacher gave praise to the third student, "Your mind will roll
with the ease of a newly trued wheel."
The fourth student answered, "Riding my bicycle, I live in harmony
with all beings."
The teacher was pleased and said, "You are riding on the golden path
of non-harming."
The fifth student replied, "I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle."
The teacher went and sat at the feet of the fifth student, and said,
"I am your disciple."
- February 10, 2012 at 7:15 PM
- Steve said...
Bikenomics means the money I save not only in vehicle cost, but also the money that is saved by not having to see a doctor because of vehicle-related health problems, or how about the tax-dollars that are saved because cycling does not tear up the roads as vehicles do. Also, cash that is not sent to the oil companies because of pedaling can be used to help struggling small businesses that need our help far more than big oil.
- February 12, 2012 at 8:57 PM
- Gary said...
So a computer randomization has selected Steve as the winner for this. If you can send me your e-mail contact, we can arrange getting the zines to you.
My e-mail is g a r y r i d e s bikes@ gmail .com
- February 20, 2012 at 12:11 PM


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Scarlett Johansson is Glad She's With Journalist Romain Dauriac: Actors Are Obsessed with Emotions
It's our lucky day – another Scarlett Johansson cover has hit the Internet and this time it's the Vanity Fair May 2014 issue.
Here's what the 29-year-old Captain America actress had to share with the mag:
On it being easier dating Romain Dauriac than a fellow actor: "It is. But it's more than that. We do different things. He's in the whole art-scene world. So it's nice, because we can enjoy each other's worlds, but we don't have our crazy conflicting schedules and all that other stuff to contend with. And, you know, of course, actors, in general, they're obsessed with emotions. Although, he's French, so he's also probably overly into his emotions."
On the SodaStream controversy: "[I'm being called] the new face of apartheid. There's a lot of anti-Semitism out there."
On social media: "All of it drives me crazy."
For more from Scarlett, visit VanityFair.com.
Check out Scarlett on the cover of Glamour magazine's May 2014 issue as well!
Bigger cover inside…


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In July, I went to order a refill of my pump and was refused. My account was overdue, and my pump company wouldn't issue a refill until I could pay at least $400 of the $1200 I owed. I didn't have $400. I am a freelance writer and stay-at-home mom with a knack for stretching my husband's paycheck. I'd been making small monthly payments of about $50 because that was all we could afford, but now they wouldn't send me any more. So I went to the pharmacy and bought a box of syringes for $25. I didn't want to go back to multiple daily injections, but I didn't see that I had a choice.
It turns out that I'm not alone. A member of tuDiabetes writes, "I am no longer pumping…the supplies are too expensive, since I am starting my first semester of college. I just can't afford it…which makes me really sad." Another member writes, "My survival has come to rely on the kindness of others. Sometimes I have to choose to live without heat in the winter or electricity in order to afford my insulin and test strips. I wait for months and endless hours to attend the free clinic (which is overloaded with patients) and I haven't seen an endo in years because I can't afford it. There has to be another way…"
One of the first things my pediatrician told my mom when I was diagnosed in 1985, at 14 years old, was that diabetes is one of the most expensive diseases. The expense didn't really register with me until I graduated from college and was kicked off my parent's health insurance plan. I had to find a job so that I could pay for test strips, insulin, and syringes instead of new clothes and shoes like my friends. Suddenly I was thrown into the adult world of trying to manage my finances. The cons (money spent on visits to the doctor and medical supplies) were immediate, and they often overshadowed the pros (avoiding the possibility of complications twenty years down the line).
In this time of job loss and economic recession, many people with diabetes are making the choice to pay the mortgage instead of their medical bills. Many people are choosing to skip doctor appointments and not refill certain prescriptions. Dr. Liz Stephens, type 1 diabetic and endocrinologist in Portland, Oregon, says that cost is a huge issue and that many patients are often embarrassed to bring up the issue to their doctors. "I noticed an increase of no-show rates with the downturn of the economy. We can offer samples and assistance programs, but it's really challenging."
The American Diabetes Association reports that the typical monthly cost to treat diabetes runs from $350 to $900 for those who do not have insurance. Statistics indicate that diabetes costs the U.S. $23.7 million each year, and expenses are expected to rise with the increased rate of type 1 and type 2 diagnoses. In the December issue of Diabetes Care, a report titled Projecting the Future Diabetes Population Size and Related Costs for the U.S. concludes, "Without significant changes in public or private strategies, this population and cost growth are expected to add a significant strain to an overburdened healthcare system."
These reports are not surprising or groundbreaking. While misconceptions about diabetes are common, ranging from "You got diabetes from eating too much sugar" to "You can't have babies because you have diabetes," one universal truth is that diabetes is expensive for hospitals, Medicare, insurance companies, and, especially, diabetics themselves.
Digging into my own financial history, I estimate that the typical expenses for someone living with type 1 diabetes can range anywhere from $800 to $1500 a year depending on treatment.
Costs include: (based on my insurance prescription plan)
- $25 for a box of 100 syringes (average of 3 shots a day per needle, 3 ½-month supply)
- $80 for a box of 100 test strips (testing 10 times a day, three-month supply)
- $450 for a box of 30 Omnipods, based on 50 percent insurance coverage. (One pod lasts three days, one box is a 90-day supply)
- $40 for a bottle of insulin (One bottle of Humalog lasts an average of one month if using the pump, two weeks if using MDI)
The approximate yearly total for pumping is $2500. The approximate yearly total for for MDI is $900. Based on this rough calculation, if doctor visits average $1000 a year, diabetes has cost me $23,000 to $50,000 (after insurance) over the last 25 years of my life. Living on a fixed income, I can't help but think about where else that money could have gone.
Kelly Love Johnson was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at 30 years old and was thankful that she had good insurance. After she left her job, however, she was only covered by COBRA until the end of December 2009. Kelly says, "I spent about two months trying to get personal coverage and was denied by every single company I applied to because of my pre-existing condition – diabetes. I moved to Austin in January for a new job, but my new job does not include health insurance, and I have been uninsured for more than eight months now. When the healthcare bill passed earlier this year, I had high hopes because it included a law that insurance providers could not turn you down for personal coverage due to pre-existing conditions. Then I found out that it doesn't go into place until 2014." Kelly found a healthcare clinic through the Catholic Healthcare System and feels fortunate to live in Austin, Texas, with its good public healthcare. Kelly's hope for the future is that either the company she works for will continue to grow and be able to offer health insurance, or that she'll be able to get reasonably priced personal coverage in 2014.
Elizabeth Todd-Heckel, MSW, CDE, a type 1 diabetic for 43 years and the only registered diabetes educator and social worker in South Carolina, says, "Diabetes is an expensive disease, as we both know. For patients with limited resources, we often work with our social worker at the Family Practice Center to access supplies." She says that the biggest issue for people living with diabetes and struggling to pay for supplies is test strips. As Kelly says, "I've been testing less often to save on lancets and test strips because I still have to pay (a portion of the cost through the clinic) for those."
Tips on managing medical costs:
- Ask your doctor to write the prescription for "as needed" on insulin and test strips
- Use mail order prescription services
- Ask your doctor for samples at each visit because they often have an excess, and drug companies don't seem to mind
- Ask your doctor for generic drugs
- Don't be embarrassed to ask your doctor for advice; you are not alone
- Drug companies that sell insulin or diabetes medications usually have patient assistance programs. Such programs are available only through a physician. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and its member companies sponsor an interactive website with information about drug assistance programs at www.PPARx.org.
- Department of Agriculture's Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program: Food, nutrition education, and access to healthcare services are available through the WIC program, and having diabetes or gestational diabetes is considered a medically based nutrition risk: www.fns.usda.gov/wic
- Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA): This program brings together America's pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other healthcare providers, patient advocacy organizations, and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through public or private programs to obtain free, or at-cost medications. The PPA site (www.pparx.org) offers an online questionnaire to determine program eligibility for more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. To access the Partnership for Prescription Assistance by phone, you can call toll-free 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669).
- Flexible Spending Accounts: One of the few ways workers can cut out-of-pocket medical expenses is through medical flexible spending accounts (also known as a flex spending account or FSA). A medical flex account is an employer-provided benefit that allows you to contribute a set amount from your paycheck in order to cover out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses such as health insurance co-pays, uninsured treatments, or even over-the-counter drug purchases. Using this concept of "pre-tax" dollars can reduce your medical costs by as much as 30 percent depending on your tax bracket.
- CPR: This program provides co-payment assistance to insured Americans who financially and medically qualify. (First come first serve, insulin only, not supplies) www.copays.org
I went without the pump for the summer and then asked my dad for help. I'm lucky to have a supportive family and grateful for the way the pump makes my life (as the mother of three young children) less chaotic, but it's only a matter of time before my balance grows out of proportion again because nothing has changed with our financial situation. I've applied to the CPR program and am waiting to hear if I'm eligible for assistance. I've asked my endocrinologist to re-write my prescription for insulin so that I can get two bottles for $40 instead of one, but I can't help thinking about diabetics who don't have these resources.
When the money in our bank account gets too low, I'm still tempted to go back to syringes. I wonder if making my life less hectic is worth the extra money. I realize that if I'm forced to choose between convenience and cost, I'll have to go with cost.


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Sometimes I get emails from people who are very urgently trying to warn me that the work I'm doing comes from Satan, not God. They let me know that the spirit guides I *think* I'm speaking with are just demons or Satan in disguise. They quote a few Bible verses at me, they tell me… Read On
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Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Buckle Your Seatbelt for the House Consideration of the Farm BillTweet
The Farm Bill had a cakewalk through the US Senate two weeks ago. Now it is swimming in a swamp infested with crocodiles as it tries to survive in the House of Representatives. House leadership called for amendments on Monday and received over 200, many of them from out and out opponents to farm legislation. The House Rules Committee sorted out the more salient and comprehensive amendments for debate, and late Tuesday House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas opened debate urging his House colleagues to accept the bi-partisan efforts of his committee that approved it 36 to 10. Unfortunately, that is not going to happen quickly.
Chairman Frank Lucas opened House debate on H.R. 1947 saying, "The FARRM Act is a different farm bill for different times. There is a reason we put reform in the title. This is the most reform-minded bill in decades. It repeals outdated policies while reforming, streamlining, and consolidating over 100 government programs. It reforms the SNAP program – also known as the food stamp program - for the first time since the welfare reforms of 1996. And, it makes tremendous reforms to farm programs." Among the changes he itemized were:
1) A $40 billion savings over 10 years compared to the current farm programming budget.
2) Elimination of $5 billion in direct payments.
3) Repeal of the ACRE and SURE programs and a 36% cut in farm program spending.
4) Streamlining conservation programs
5) Tightening up qualification rules for nutrition program participants.
However, the Lucas assessment is not what everyone wanted to hear, since his own party wanted many more cuts and the Democratic Party was trying to fend off any cuts, particularly to nutrition programs. Despite efforts on both sides to unplug agriculture from nutrition, it has been that coalition that has helped each other thrive in recent Farm Bill initiatives.
After nutrition programs, the most controversial part of the Farm Bill is crop insurance. What was once dull and boring and of non-interest to farmers 20 years ago, has become the life of the risk management party with creative policies that have attracted 80% of farmers in recent years. But the premium subsidies, now about 60% of the cost of the premium, are being criticized as direct payments have been in recent years. After the Senate two weeks ago voted to put a means test on crop insurance premium subsidies and lower the subsidy to high dollar farmers, the House members have taken deadly aim at similar provisions, offering amendments to reduce premium subsidies, eliminate them, or cap them and require conservation compliance.
Ethanol even came under attack from former House Ag committee chairman Bob Goodlatte, who wants to curtail the use of corn for ethanol production to a percentage of annual carryover. And Goodlatte has also leveled his gun sights on the dairy program, which was the reason the expired 2008 Farm Bill was renewed for another year.
230 amendments have been submitted to the House Rules Committee which selected 103 for debate. The House Rules Committee met late Tuesday night to select the amendments, which turned out to be three times what Chairman Lucas had expected. Most will get about 10 minutes of debate, but longer debate can be expected for those dealing with nutrition programs and crop insurance.
C-SPAN's internet service may likely carry House debate as it occurs.
The debate is expected to last through Thursday and conclude with a vote. The bill will require at least 213 votes to pass. The House and Senate will appoint a conference committee to reconcile the differences, likely to focus on nutrition program spending and crop insurance subsidies. While Lucas says 95% of the legislation can be agreed upon by a conference committee, he says the top Congressional leaders and the White House will have to negotiate the final issues, which are likely to be nutrition program spending. The President has already indicated he does not like the way the House proposal treats nutrition programs.
Following Senate approval of a Farm Bill two weeks ago, the House is now considering its proposal. Floor debate begins Wednesday morning with several dozen amendments to be considered. Wide differences are expected between the eventual House bill and what the Senate has passed, and members of a conference committee will try to sort those out prior to the August recess.
Posted by Stu Ellis on 06/18 at 08:17 PM | Permalink