Anti-Functionalist Rant

At a fictitious metropolis, three entities working together, Club, Pass, and Community College have obtained a $2.3 M DOL grant to train twelve people in the college’s ANUS (Accomplish Nothing Under Success) certification program. Started in 2003, the program teaches students how to succeed in lucrative positions without producing results.

"There is great demand for these skills," said Wesley Mouch, Club Vice-President, "Many employers require people who can fill this role effectively."

"Companies can’t get enough," said College Senior Executive Vice-President Simi Raykitin, "It will be impossible to saturate."

The $2.3 M will be paid to Pass, who will track the students and pay College $1.6 M, enough to train twelve students (including administrative overhead). Raykitin hopes to ramp enrollment to forty by offering courses to the public. The certification requires two years of full time study. Applicants should have 12th grade English skills and two or more years of management experience.

"Being a professional grade ANUS is not as easy as you think," said one student, "We spend a semester learning how to take credit for stuff we had nothing to do with, like a drop in gas prices, a business expansion into new space, or a housing boom. After the course, you see politicians in a whole new light. Reagan got credit for the collapse of the Soviet Union, and Clinton got credit for the economic expansion in the 90s. It’s amazing what you can take credit for once you know how."

In addition to taking credit for results one did not produce, the program shows how to create the illusion of results even when none occur. In one example, "doc spinning," one produces surveys, assessments, brochures, strategic plans, flyers, and newsletters. These can be built into the subject of many meetings and presented at luncheons as accomplishments. An instructor commented, "You don’t even have to write the document. You can pay consultants to do it."

In the program one learns the ANUS Semantic Matrix of Meaning. Most people operate as if nothing means nothing, problematic for those who accomplish nothing. The task is to frame the discourse to where nothing can mean anything while simultaneously pushing towards anything meaning nothing. When both are achieved, anything can mean anything, a framework perfectly designed to perpetuate satisfaction in a situation where nothing occurs.

Accomplishment for which credit can be taken is helpful, but accomplishment for which credit cannot be taken is highly problematic. The former accomplishment occurs inside the "circle of acknowledgement" while the latter does not and must be eradicated. In its first three years, Club has successfully shut down all agencies outside its circle of acknowledgment. Mouch is very pleased, "If a company hires someone, or a business sells more product this year, we get credit for all of it, and nothing is our fault."

While the metropolis contends with a $12 M budget shortfall, taxpayer funded (over 60 percent) Club’s $4 M budget has a surplus. Club VP’s Major, Mouch, Shelf, Wetson, Sneed, Milche, and Mason are currently choosing where the organization should travel this year. When asked why it was necessary to visit a town’s resorts and restaurants and not just research the information, a Club spokesman said, "Research and phone calls are not sufficient."

Club is considering the French Riviera or Fiji to deepen its understanding of the attraction and how metropolis might use such practices.

"We’re delighted with the ANUS program," Raykitin said, "It’s hard to find people who can produce absolutely nothing in high paying positions."

Checkmate

Tucson, Arizona. Special thanks to Casey, a relatively new blogger with a particular awareness some readers here might find interesting, for writing a complimentary piece about this place today. Younger than me by almost ten years, Casey is the older end of the omnivores. Take a look at his place and you can tell.

Bill Clinton has all but declared the conditional end to Hillary's bid for the nomination, stating that if she does not win in both Texas AND Ohio, it's over. I don't have the context around his remarks, but I had a reaction to the following excerpt: If she wins in Texas and Ohio I think she will be the nominee. If you don't deliver for her then I don't think she can. It's all on you.

To be fair, I don't know tone of voice or the prior sentence, but if there is any meaning in the direction that somehow Texas and Ohio are responsible for this nomination, what a crock. Maybe he's just explaining that circumstances have put the two states in a particular position, which is accurate. When someone shows up at your door borderline mortally wounded if not mortally wounded, and says "It's all on you" now wait a minute. Maybe they need you to save their butt. You are not responsible for creating the circumstance.

Elaborating on some content from a comment of mine at the last thread:

Some politicians like to criticize opponents who have not run organizations or businesses, "They've never been a CEO or executive."

The fact is candidates are the CEO's of their campaigns. Watching the business of the campaign (and it is very much a business, a difficult one) tells much about a candidate. I have been won over by candidates due to the professionalism, the ethics, and the people of the campaign organizations they created. A certain Arizona Congresswoman comes to mind. People like Rodd, Ron, Daniel, Katherine, Jennifer, Todd, Sarah, don't support jerks. They just don't.

If you compare the campaigns of Obama and Clinton, there is no comparison. While not perfect, Obama has run a very good campaign. That takes skill. The governor of Wisconsin commented on the Obama machinery at work in his Wisconsin over the past week. Anyone thinking Obama is winning on rhetoric has no clue, none, what it takes to win an election. A massive network of staff extending outward to a sea of volunteers braving heat, cold, hostility, and other challenges must come together. Most of the meetings are not on television.

Clinton's campaign has been a fiasco, making huge blunders and missteps that are no one's fault but her own. They continue to make mistakes. Competing factions argue about both strategy and tactics. They failed scenario planning 101 with the whole lot caught stupefied with pants around their ankles after Iowa. What was the "lose Iowa" scenario plan? They didn't have one. What was the "not locked up on 2/5" plan? They didn't have one.

Now in THIS election they attack inspiration and hope! As her campaign implodes before our eyes, she professes she has solutions and is the one who can get things done? I can't win elections, but I can solve health care and education?! The icing on the cake and beyond comprehension: I will fight to change the game so I can win without the popular vote.

Apparently neither of the Clintons nor the well paid staff on her campaign grasp what the message is doing across the country.

Still, Obama must defend against the vitriol and pay attention on all fronts including email blasts, push polls, radio, television, and speeches. As Liza notes, she will throw and heave anything she can find in the hopes that something, anything, can draw blood. If I were Obama, I would be well informed by 1992. Senior Bush threw everything at Bill. James Carville was a master at returning fire.

My advice for Obama at the Thursday night debate in Texas: The context is decisive. Surround the petty digs with a larger picture that illuminates the digs as digs. You are the bigger person. BE IT. When asked what you have accomplished as a senator, as a lawyer, as a father, as anything damn thing she can think of, have solid answers. Embrace the accusation that you lack substance and have it for dinner. She's hitting you on speeches. Hit her on solutions. What solutions?

After she says what we have all heard over and over again, acknowledge common goals and aims. Then note with eloquence and a solid but not arrogant wisdom: Her ideas reflect 20th century thinking. The country and the planet require 21st century thinking, and that is what you are. The time has come to turn a tired, tired, page and bring fresh ideas, ideas that include respecting the will of the people, to Washington.

CHECKMATE.

Eleven Great Films Few Have Seen

Angel Heart Bill Cosby had a cow when Lisa Bonet slaughtered a chicken and had out of the box sex with Nine 1/2 Weeks Mickey Rourke in this spooky black magic voodoo thriller. Not for kids or people with a thing about chickens, Alan Parker's disturbing film takes the viewer on a trip with an unforgettable ending. Fantastic sequences we initially consider dreams are anything but illusions.

The Ice Storm Most people know about Ang Lee for directing the homophobe irritating Brokeback Mountain. Years earlier Lee directed a unique film forecasting the success of many including Elijah Wood, Tobey Maguire, Katie Holmes, and Christina Ricci. The established talent of Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, and Sigourney Weaver just nail the piece to produce a scathing portrayal of the spiritual bankruptcy of 1970's America that led to the backlash of the "moral" majority. Weaver and Kline are lovers cheating on their spouses. Kline starts to talk in bed. Weaver turns to him, "You're boring me. I already have a husband."

The Fog of War Errol Morris made waves and film history with the incredible documentary, The Thin Blue Line that demonstrated the wrongful conviction of Randall Adams by a corrupt Texas justice system and made it into The 50 Greatest Documentaries. The documentary led to the release of Adams.

Morris engages in first rate dialog with former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara whose remorse drives him to share his gained knowledge and wisdom regarding war, conflict, and diplomacy. Discussing WWII, Korea, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Vietnam, McNamara's words could not be more relevant to the current travesties taking place. Everyone elected to Congress should be required to see this film prior to taking oath. In fact, they should have to pass a test.

Speaking of films everyone elected to Congress should see, The Corporation explores the history of the development of legally organizing a group of individuals on a mission to make money with full legal rights and no legal responsibility. Say what? The concept seems to make sense upon initial inspection but deeper analysis shows we have unleashed monsters that will kill us and our children if it helps their bottom line. If they can get away with it, they will take over governments, corrupt politicians, craft legislation favoring their own interests at the expense of everyone else, buy elections, falsify evidence, and even control the presidency to where the nation invades other countries to secure lucrative contracts leading to record profits for themselves and record deficits for the nation.

Through the lens of psychological profiling, they examine the behavior of corporations.

True Romance Tony Scott, brother of the famous Ridley Scott, has used his brother's stature to venture into unexplored territory, producing the exquisite The Hunger that features one of the most remarkable opening scenes of any film ever produced. True Romance features compelling and interesting scenes one can watch a hundred times, such as the trailer scene with Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper, or Patricia Arquette getting primeval bloody with James Gandalfini prior to his Soprano fame. My favorite is the delicious confrontation between Christian Slater and Gary Oldman in the bar. Cinematic poetry.

The Song Of Bernadette (Left - The Real Bernadette Soubirous. Right - Jennifer Jones playing Bernadette in the film) No film slammed your humble blogger like this one, because it simply defies any explanations available. Not only the story, but the story behind the story, and the story behind the writing of the story, and the story behind the film, all transcend what passes for normal. An absolute MUST SEE for true Christians. I remain unable to process this event. On Thursday, February 11, 1858 at about 9 AM in the Basque region of Southern France, a very weak and sickly girl living in abject poverty sets out with her sisters for firewood. She sees something. What unfolds defies physics, but it occurred. The film is 100 percent true. The deeply spiritual with developed souls will find it profoundly moving. For those who believe in God, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not believe in God, no explanation is possible. Have tissue. I used half a box and bought books on the event.

About as far from the prior film as possible, Shadow of the Vampire stars William Dafoe as the best vampire to ever appear on screen, getting under the viewer's skin as a truly creepy creature whose very being makes one squirm. Based on the making of the 1922 classic FW Murnau's Nosferatu about Bram Stoker's classic book, it is a movie about the making of a movie using not an actor, but a real vampire. John Malkovich is also perfect as the director. The monster's body language and expressions really denote something no longer human, "I don't think you need the writer anymore."

The film completely freaked my parents. I'm not allowed to show them films anymore.

Laurel Canyon A Lisa Cholodenko gem starring Christian Bale and Kate Beckinsale as an engaged couple stretching boundaries and exploring new terrain while staying in a bohemian house on the famous Laurel Canyon Road in Los Angeles. The film is meant to capture the Joni Mitchell 60s energy of lives lived without boundaries or obligations. The tension between freedom and fidelity just drips off the screen, and the steaming pool scene alone makes the entire film worth watching. Terrific.

Scenes from A Marriage
Warning - this is an Ingmar Bergman film, the one who made Autumn Sonata, Fanny and Alexander, Cries and Whispers, Serpent's Egg, and of course the famous The Seventh Seal where the main character plays a game of chess with Death. The films that crawl into your head and stay. Not for the superficial, those with the perception to grasp what is happening in Scenes will experience a piece that cuts to the bone and proceeds to marrow without slowing down.

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? I'm nobody's houseboy now! Set at Dartmouth, Ernest Lehman's production of Edward Albee's Broadway hit created material far ahead of its time, using the electricity between Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor to create an unparalleled masterpiece in cinema. The film captured five Oscars, handing one to Taylor for Best Actress and Sandy Dennis for Supporting Actress. Pre-dating it by 15 years, the film squares My Dinner with Andre, another extraordinary work.

A Hallmark production, The Russell Girl just aired a couple weeks ago. I bought the film at once. My first post about it reflected the grasp of a single viewing. Watching it again produced an infinitely richer experience and shifts the focus from Sarah Russell (Amber Tamblyn), a guilt crippled young woman dying of leukemia, to Lorraine Morrisey (Jennifer Ehle), a resentment crippled woman whose hatred is eating her from the inside out. Ehle's performance is SPECTACULAR. Those needing shootouts, sex, and car chases will hate the film, and those lacking sufficient distinctions will find it painfully slow. I find nothing more moving or rewarding than personal transformation along vectors only accessible in human conversation.

It simply does not get better than being a course leader causing the growth and development of what it is to be human. Watching Lorraine's transformation was delightful and touching. Some results cannot be purchased with money. The price tag can consist of agony, profound suffering, and the alienation of loved ones for years. In some circumstances one must pay most dearly for the ability to say "Eighty nine cents."

Worlds and Realities

Tucson, Arizona. I had a terrific evening last night among GOP candidates and supporters, enjoying intelligent dialog with highly informed people truly committed to the well being of our local community, our state, and our nation. I was so engaged in conversation I never made it to the humidor to grab a cigar. I finally got to meet Sonoran Alliance blogger OVD, who like my father, is one of those Christians who actually pays attention to the teachings of Christ. True Christians understand that Jesus Christ is not about hating the different and screwing the poor. A Christian that pays attention to the teachings of Christ?

Imagine.

Ray Carroll was there for awhile and I had the opportunity to speak with him briefly. He is part of the solution, not the problem. A discussion about the Pima County Board of Supervisors would remove all doubt that a certain blogger is indeed Independent. In that group, a red tsunami is fine with me. However, new blue is on the horizon. It's time for a certain supervisor who says she's about workforce development to take a hike.

She and the Mayor can go to PCC for high tech training.

Jesus.

Vic of course was there the entire evening, but no Framer. Frank Antoneri showed up later on, and he has the zeal of a sports fan for the meltdown scenario. Frank is eager to enjoy a good meat lovers pizza with some beer as the Democrats ram Hillary down the throat of a party screaming for another candidate.

Three Levels of Integrity

My mention of The Landmark Forum in the last post resulted in a thread where Navigator asked me to present the three levels of integrity. Landmark Education does a better job of explaining their programs, so go to their place if you want more information about them.

Regarding the three levels of integrity as I was trained by my mentor (a different program with different licensing but related material).

Level One Integrity: Doing what one says one will Do.
Level Two Integrity: Honoring one's Word as oneself.
Level Three Integrity: World sees one as one's Word.

Each is an absolute prerequisite for the next. Forget about level two until the first is completely handled. Without the first two cemented, to even think about the third is ludicrous. Few operate at the third level.

A full grasp requires substantial training and development. I will explain.

The first is the easiest to understand. You make and keep promises with extraordinary rigor and immediately take action when the inevitable and rarer than you think change in circumstances eliminates the possibility of keeping a commitment. Speech acts exist to manage the conversation effectively.

Speech Acts: Request, Promise, Accept, Decline, Revoke, Demand, Invite, Assert, Promise to Promise.

Every time a person says s/he will be home by four, will call or send an email, will get back to you by Thursday, run 5 miles three times a week, whatever, a promise is made.

Accept a Request, and you've made a Promise. At the first level, you keep it, period. Yes, circumstances shift. When they do, one cannot communicate fast enough to Revoke and make a second Promise that can be kept. If it is not possible to Promise immediately, Promise to Promise when it becomes possible. If someone makes a request you know you will not do, Decline at once. That you explain or make an excuse is neither relevant nor necessary.

I can't tell you how many bitch fests I have cut off with, "Do you have a request?"

"Bitch gripe moan, waah, waah, ..."
"Do you have a request?"
(Pause.)
"Fix my computer so it networks okay."
"I will have it fixed by tomorrow night."

No, a broken promise with a great excuse does not equal a kept promise.

The second (Landmark graduates will understand) level is a WAY OF BEING. To operate at the second level, one must have the mindset that one is indeed one's word as identity. You honor your word as yourself. Your word is what you are, NOT your thoughts and feelings.

You SAY you are going to run 5 miles MWF at 6 AM. When the alarm goes off, and your thoughts and feelngs say "Stay in bed" they are irrelevant. You said you were going to run, so you will. There is nothing to think about. When I was completely disintegrating in front of God and everybody trying to lead LDP Group 7, getting torn to shreds by Errol, do you think my thoughts and feelings or what I wanted is what kept me at the front of that room? My thoughts screamed, "You're worthless." My feelings were sheer terror. I wanted to die. My word said I would be trained to lead the LDP.

At the second level, you ARE what you say.

Operating at the second level, people think a little more about what they say.

People can go sideways in this conversation. We talk about this for half a day - several hours. It is not a piece of cake to fully comprehend. A guy once told me he operated at the second level of integrity and I broke out laughing, "No you don't, not even remotely, not even the first level. What time did you get here?"
"A little after four."
"When did we say we would meet?"
"Oh come on! What's a few minutes?"
"The difference between making and breaking a promise."

He got all offended, "That's not reasonable."
"Reason's got nothing to do with it."

Operating at the second level requires substantial maturity in the distinctions.

The third level of integrity involves what the rest of the world sees in the person. How does the person show up in the world? Operate at the second level over time, and the world starts to get that you indeed are what you say.

Ghandi BECAME freedom for India. Nelson Mandela BECAME the end of apartheid. Martin Luther King BECAME his dream. They cannot do this if they are what they are except when it's difficult or they have a tummy ache or it gets scary or dangerous. The world cannot get that you are freedom for India if you only are when you get to sleep in.

The three levels of integrity is an advanced conversation. I just stuck your toe in the water. If you want to see something incredible, buy a small notebook and make it an appendage. Keep of log of all committed speaking. The first promise that goes on page one:

I promise to record every speech act I make into this notebook and review it every day to record the outcome of each one.

I went to Landmark's web site just for fun, and the video offers some terrific material. I highly encourage you to go to the "See it in action" part. You get to see real course leaders including Zaffron (occurs vs is). "The context is decisive" is also well done. I used $45 in "Something Else." I forgot all about the cathedral example. Those people are course leaders, the real deal. I am talking about something infinitely beyond teaching. For practical reasons, the videos are almost all course leader speaking. In the real course, participants talk a LOT more than the videos suggest. Also, the videos are very neat and tidy.

In the real deal, the room is less well dressed and way less happy. When it starts, the course leader speaks into a group containing the scared, nervous, defiant, angry, uptight, EVERYTHING. That's why the course is so difficult to lead. If you have what it takes to lead a Forum, there is no course beyond you. To lead anything, just learn the content and you're there.

District Dominoes

Tucson, Arizona. Anyone paying the slightest attention to the political blogs knows that Arizona CD-3 John Shadegg is throwing in the towel. Republicans are resigning/not running again by the dozens. In the Senate they might be setting a record with half of those up for re-election having announced they will not run. Stuffing Cheney pigs at the expense of poor children and the middle class must get old. The "I made a fortune for Halliburton, Blackwater, and Pfizer" trophy just doesn't bring that soul closer to God.

The resignation sends ripples throughout the political formulas, a domino effect showing that the GOP, despite the possible nomination fiasco the Democrats may inflict on themselves, is in serious trouble. Now the Republicans must devote resources to reclaim an open CD-3 seat (best bet), unseat Harry Mitchell in CD-5 (next priority), or help Tim Bee face Gabrielle Giffords in CD-8 (futility).

Shadegg's resignation offers terrific news for Mitchell, deflecting cross-hairs from his forehead to an empty chair in terms of both opposing candidates and money. The other blogs have said plenty, so I will not duplicate. Sonoran Alliance (link to the right) posted Shadegg's press release. I close with the following observation:

With Dick Cheney no longer in office and a recession ridden populace broken and ruined, what's a pig stuffer to do? Our nation desperately needs a tsunami, a political enema, an hour of gargling Listerine and serious flossing. All of Congress should attend The Landmark Forum to complete their pasts and declare their futures.

They can skip Tuesday night.

An End and a Beginning

Tucson, Arizona. Apologies for the long post. Cigar Man and I had a chat recently. I finally know who he is. He clarified a lot. I don't foresee any future posts on SAIAT. Navigator - this is the final post.

The Southern Arizona Institute of Advanced Technology was incorporated in October 2000 with the support of individuals like Bob Hagan, Bob Breault, Steve Peters, Laura DeNinno, and other SATC "high tech" proponents who love to talk cloth and schmooze. Build it and they will come.

No one came, of course. Well, develop technology! Laura DeNinno proclaimed, "Whoever has the people gets the companies and the jobs."

SATC did a survey. Companies needed training. SAIAT put together web development programs. PCC put together a fancy optics program for "impossible to saturate" optics positions. No one enrolled.

With no understanding of education or what worker development services employers were truly willing to pay for, they created the place. We were told the help the "Plastics Cluster." We talked to plastics firms, optics firms, aerospace, software companies. Anybody want anything? Nope.

The Tech Park! I went there. What I am going to offer three PhD’d geniuses working to create a nuclear laser? Another team of five had fancy sound detectors that can bulls-eye the location of a shooter within inches from a thousand yards away. Another group had an unmanned plane the size of toaster with fancy optical equipment that can detect heat signatures a mile away. Move out to the Tech Park, Matt. They’ll be beating on the door with training requests you can refer to the community college.

Think about that for a minute. High technology advocates wanted me to find students to refer to the community college. I speak the truth.

I slashed costs, redesigned the organization, changed our name (from the sacred "technology" to "training"), and restored viability at dramatically reduced funding. I expanded flexibility to create a state of the art modularized employee development resource center. A month later (December 2004) Cigar Man contacted me, "You’re dead. You might have year, maybe two. You do not have four."

In 2006, after two years of successful operations, the Mayor and Supervisor Bronson endorsed the "Business Convergence Center" and praised us. Various development agencies would move into our facility. However, TREO wanted our funding. We infuriated them by requesting they not take it. They took even more, reversed their position, and shut us down.

The clues were there. I will never forget a 2002 conversation regarding the "Train to Gain" program that would take totally unskilled workers and train them in information technology (how to install programs, use Office, print). Phase Two would teach them Java Programming and Application Development.

The above context sheds the facts in a far more illuminating light.

Summer 1999: BHP shuts down the copper mine and smelter in San Manuel, Arizona, laying off 2600 workers.
September 1999: Art Eckstrom hires laid-off Matt to help One Stop Centers assist laid-off BHP employees.
Fall 1999: The City of Tucson and Pima County launch a High Tech High Wage Program (HTHW) to train under-employed Tucsonans in electronics. PCC provides training at premium pricing, making a fortune. Over 90 percent of the students fail at once.
Spring 2000: Matt designs and delivers the Math Skills Enhancement Program to potential HTHW participants. Failure rates plummet, and HTHW becomes viable.
October 2000: SAIAT is incorporated with Glenn Perry as Executive Director.
March 2001: Matt joins SAIAT as Director of Technical Education.
March 2001: Bill Samardak joins SAIAT as Director of Computer Education.
July 2001: SAIAT becomes an Authorized Sun Microsystems Education Center
February 2002: Matt becomes a Sun Certified Java Programmer
Summer 2002: SAIAT delivers programs including Telecommunications, Plastics, Solaris, Java, Soldering, Math Skills Enhancement, MCSE, and others with funding from multiple sources including the City, County, DOL, TANF, WIA, RYA, H1B and others.
September 2002: State Representative Carol Somers loses the GOP primary for District 26.
November 2002: Carol Somers becomes the Chair of the SAIAT Board of Directors.
December 2002: Bill Samardak resigns from SAIAT. Matt is promoted to Director of Education.
June 2003: Glenn Perry resigns. Matt becomes Acting Director.
July 2003: SAIAT FY 2004 funding is cut from $1.1M to $250K. Pima County severs financial ties with SAIAT and stops paying its $20K+ /month facility lease.
FY 2004: SAIAT loses $351K as Matt reorganizes the institute to serve employers, not individual students. He fractures training, certification, and development events (including meetings) to modular components based on OOP principles. It works.
July 2004: Matt addresses the Pima County Economic Development Council.
August 2004: SAIAT FY 2005 funding increased to $300K, infuriating other agencies.
December 2004: An unidentified individual "Cigar Man" declares SAIAT is doomed regardless of performance or results. He advises, "Craft an exit." Matt enters the PhD program in Higher Education.
FY 2005: SAIAT realizes a net gain of $55K.
September 2005: Matt is promoted to Executive Director of SAIAT.
FY 2006: SAIAT funding is slashed $67,500.
FY 2006: Despite the funding cut, SAIAT posts a gain of $22K. Customers praise SAIAT operations. Participant volume in a vast array of customized employee development programs exceeds 10,000 employees per year. Raytheon Acknowledgment.
September 2006: TREO voices support of SAIAT at its annual luncheon and obtains Mayor Walkup’s and Supervisor Bronson’s support for a Business Convergence Center at the SAIAT facility.
Early October 2006: TREO proposes SAIAT provide space, office supplies, office equipment, and assume the job training grant support responsibilities. SAIAT agrees.
Late October 2006: TREO suggests a $92.5K slash in SAIAT’s funding. Matt counters with a $47.5 reduction. TREO agrees.
October 29, 2006: In light of the increased work load, SAIAT Board Members Rich McKinney and David Beveridge refuse to approve the counter. The Board agrees to request funding remain at $242.5K.
November 2006: TREO cuts SAIAT funding by $132.5K, a 55% reduction.
November 7, 2006: TREO CEO Joe Snell writes County Administrator Huckelberry asserting the SAIAT board approved the 55% reduction in funding.
November 2006: SAIAT begins losing over $10K per month.
November 2006: SAIAT Board Members Rich McKinney and David Beveridge, members of Consulting Firm Solutus Partners, suggest SAIAT staff receive kick backs for SAIAT referrals to Solutus Partners. Matt declines.
November 2006: SAIAT Board member and Solutus Partner Rich McKinney contacts SAIAT employees to request contact information for SAIAT instructors and subject matter experts. This is declined.
December 2006: SAIAT Board Member and Solutus Partner Bill Galis resigns from the SAIAT Board.
January 3, 2006: SAIAT hires Carol Somers. She resigns from the SAIAT Board to join staff.
January 2006: Bill Galis signs a contract between Solutus Partners and TREO to provide consulting services. No disclosure is provided to SAIAT.
January 2006: Solutus Partners and TREO meet regularly.
February 15, 2007: SAIAT Board Members and Solutus Partners Rich McKinney and Dave Beveridge call for the immediate termination of the Executive Director with Rich McKinney to step in as his replacement. SAIAT Board Chair Vaughn Croft announces he will resign immediately if this occurs. It doesn't. Minutes
February 28, 2007: TREO instructs SAIAT staff to refer consulting business to Solutus Partners. Agenda Item #5
March 2, 2007: Vaughn Croft learns of the Solutus/TREO contract for the same outreach services designated in the SAIAT/TREO contract. By email Croft requests Solutus write a letter regarding a conflict of interest. Solutus does not respond. Croft sends follow up emails. There is no response.
March 9, 2007: Solutus Partner Rich McKinney emails TREO Vice-President Lee Smith asking for direction.
March 18, 2007: TREO Vice-President Lee Smith declares to Croft that no conflict of interest exists.
March 20, 2007: SAIAT legal council Pat Farrell declares there is a conflict of interest.
March 23, 2007: Dave Beveridge resigns from SAIAT Board.
March 25, 2007: Rich McKinney resigns from SAIAT Board.
May 15, 2007: Matt resigns as SAIAT Director.
Summer 2007: TREO cuts SAIAT FY 2008 funding to zero.
July 7, 2007: "Something Else" is published.
December 2007: SAIAT Operations close. The Solutus web site goes down. Solutus is removed from the TREO web site.
January 2008: Tucson Citizen reporter Teya Vitu is instructed to prepare a story on SAIAT and its closure. The High Tech guys say it didn’t promote the development of high tech companies. The Mayor says companies can just go to PCC. Teya chooses to kill the story.

Arizona’s rank in the United States in support for Education: 50

The journey from beginning to end happens by itself. The journey from end to beginning does not.

Twenty First Century Education

Thanks to Michael Bryan for posting this video. I stole the embed code outright. I don't think he'll be upset.

I'm up late working on a paper due Friday. I have never worked so hard on a single paper. Something Else was a lot of work, but on an effort per page, this sets a new record. I'll post a link to it as a pdf. Those having any interest can have a taste of what I REALLY do.

By the way, the paper is about education.

The title: Students as Resources: The Influence of State Appropriations on Public Higher Education Pricing Policies

Tsunami Tuesday AM - Making History

Tucson, Arizona. Your humble blogger froze his blogger butt this AM to collect signatures for his Congresswoman and get a pulse on the AM voter turnout. Leading indicators suggest the blue tsunami I forecast and desire. Now, I worked a poll at Wilmot and Speedway, which rests at the upper end of LD 28 and lower end of LD 26. I fruitfully collected signatures and from the addresses could tell I was on Gabrielle's turf. Lots of 2nd Street, 3rd Street, Rosewood, and other blue terrain. Present at the poll: a Barack Obama volunteer greeting voters and handing out stickers, a Barbara LaWall volunteer collecting signatures, and your humble blogger in his Giffords for Congress T-shirt and x4mr certified blogger badge, neither of which anyone saw because it was flipping freezing and both were concealed under my Mt. Everest coat.


What voters did see were the stickers shown prominently placed on said coat.

Democrats turned out in droves, probably four out of five. Even more interesting were the GOP voters that turned up. They did not look happy. Most interesting of all were several Republicans who approached us and confessed, "We can't sign your petitions because we are officially Republicans, but in our hearts we are Republicans no more. You can't have our signature, but you have our vote in November."

The hatred for the Bush administration is universal except for a small number of extremely angry right wingers, one of whom yelled at us when we asked if he was a registered democrat. The guy was young and filled with rage, "NO!! Am I breaking up your union meeting?!"

We said nothing in response. The Obama volunteer, a young, bright African American student at the university, the LaWall volunteer, and I just looked at each other. After the hate-monger left, we asked, "Who is he angry with?"

At least at this poll, both Giffords and Obama have cause to smile. Many of the Democrats eagerly signed the petitions and spoke quite favorably with the Obama volunteer, taking Obama stickers. Still, one could sense some Hillary sentiment.

The 2008 election, like Sunday's Super Bowl, will be one for the history books. The Super Bowl broke all ratings records and provided one of the best games ever seen. The brutal corruption, incompetence, and utter disregard for the welfare of this nation on the part of an evil administration that serves itself and its friends at extraordinary cost in both dollars and blood has brought this nation to the edge of a cliff.

We must nuke the GOP to oblivion. Show them no mercy, for they have none for us. That which is worthy will rise from the ashes.