Patience is a Virtue?

I have often been told that I have a lot pf patience when people discover I work with elementary age children. For them,  that statement is 100% true. I have plenty of patience for my students even on the days when they seem to find that last nerve and bounce all over it. However,  that statement falls woefully short when it comes to dealing with the adults that roam around this world.

I am finding it more and more difficult to keep my patience around the idiotic individuals masquerading as mature these days. When I feel like I need to use teacher voice on the parents rather than the children, on the people living in the building  next door and on the drivers of the LA streets, something has gone terribly wrong.What happened to taking responsibility for your actions? What happened to the words  "please", "thank you", "excuse me" and  "I apologize"? What happened to moving out of the way when you know you are completely blocking the sidewalk to have a conversation that shouldn't be for public consumption? For that matter what happened to non public conversations? I am so sick and tired of hearing you loudly talk on your cell phone.

 Patience is a virtue but for how much longer I will be blessed with that virtue I am not certain. The actions of  the many (as it is quite more than just a few) are digging in. My patience is wearing thin.

No Photoshop Needed

"You know that's been Photoshopped.", "Photoshop!", "That has to be Photoshop."  It amazes me that so   many people have nothing better to do than state the obvious or reject reality by making the photo shop claim. Do you honestly feel that we, the viewing public, do not have the ability to discern the difference between computer generated images and natural phenomena?  Does it make you feel superior to be able to post the word Photoshop in the comments section as if your far superior skills of reasoning needed to be shared with the rest of us mere mortals?

I am sick and tired of people making this claim. It belittles and annoys the rest of us. It shows a lack of creative spirit and spontaneity. It shows an inability to enjoy the moment and a lack of suspension of disbelief. It shows a need to control others perceptions of reality. It shows a stupidity in that the person making the comment feels that the entire online community has nothing better to do than create images specifically designed to fool you and your job is to point it out.

No Photoshop has been harmed or used in the writing of this statement (just in case you weren't sure)

Reflections on a New Year of Life

There's a mad man on the loose. Gun control both for and against is being argued. The Pope is retiring at the end of the month. Women are still being judged by what they wear. Men are still being judged by how masculine is the way they conduct themselves. Sagging pants are still an unwanted fashion choice. A Lohan, Kardashian and Boo Boo Child is apparently newsworthy. The Grammy's have come and gone and the Oscars are on their way. The Year of the Snake is  upon us. Yesterday was my birthday. Valentine's day is near. Everyday reality is here.

 I am reflecting on the new year of my life and what may come my way. We have come far but not as far as we should be today. We are such a diverse population that a true middle ground will not happen for many lifetimes to come. I am in awe at the posts I see from educated, uneducated, informed, uninformed and misinformed minds in regards to current social issues. I fear for tomorrow. I worry that the children are not being taught well by their parents. I worry that a Free and public education will not be available for much longer. I worry that the arts will die before all have an opportunity to taste their beauty. I worry that history is on the verge of repeating itself. We have a long way to go my friends. All I know for now is that the world spins and we continue despite the positive and negative moments which occur.