Tonight I spent four hours watching a movie that was just under three hours (less if you count parts that might have been cut). "The Godfather" has to be one of the best movies ever! Virtually everything about it is great! It aired on AMC, which touts its philosophy of "story matters here."


Unfortunately, I was struck by a few things. First, I found myself really getting into the story and characters, but throughout the viewing experience were incessant commercial interruptions (hence the extra hour). I found myself thinking how much they hurt the flow of the story. When there weren't actual commercials, there was the constant network logo in the lower right hand corner of the screen and intrusive ads for the network's other shows in the lower left corner, which actually was big enough to cover several inches of the movie. I may be wrong, but I believe at one time the promise of paying for cable TV was no commercials - that by paying a premium for TV stations, commercials wouldn't be needed. Silly me.

I think everything became clear to me years ago during a basketball game I happened to have on (I don't watch basketball, so I am not sure of the circumstances - maybe it was the end of a game and I was waiting for the news). Anyhow, the thing I hate most about basketball is it often takes three hours to play the last two minutes, but that's another story. In one of the end zones (or whatever the area outside the end of the court is called), there was a long low box-like device that featured an ad for something or other. Then, right before my eyes, the ad slid up into the box and another ad appeared for something else! I don't know why that bothered me so much, but it did!

If I didn't know better, I'd say that TV shows are just filler between the ads, which are really what's important. When I was a local DJ (many years ago), in the weeks before Christmas the ad load picked up so much that I really wanted to say, "We'll be back with more ads right after this short musical break!" It was that bad.

On TV, group them if necessary, but leave the picture alone! Too much is too much!

xxx

Hey, we'll be back for more ranting right after this message: "Be sure to catch the latest edition of Berman's Bits, updated every Sunday, which can be found at www.bermansbits.com." (One thing I can promise you is there are no ads there.)

Shhh!

Don't Ask! Certainly Don't Tell!

In my weekly column (not coming out until next week [so don't bother looking for it until after November 8th]), I have juxtaposed two Bits that deserve a closer look and a bit more comment! Denial is a powerful force and allows certain things to continue unabated. The two issues in question are (1) how broken our schools really are and (2) how broken our military really is. They are not broken to the extent that they have stopped functioning (they're close), but neither is functioning well or coming anywhere even close to their potential.

Both institutions produce some fine, more than competent people, but it that because of or in spite of the systems that are in place? Without going into excruciatingly boring details that cite numbers and statistics, trust me when I say the public doesn't have a clue. All so many people care about is their latest tattoos or piercings or which Brad Pitt haircut looks best.

Schools are producing workers barely capable of getting and keeping minimum wage jobs and the military is asking an overstretched body of people to deploy multiple times to fight and risk all in unpopular wars that existed long before we got involved and wars that will continue long after we finally realize much more than military might is needed and we finally disengage. The first (suggesting there may be more to follow) high-ranking US government official recently quit because he has "...lost understanding of and confidence in the strategic purposes of the United States' presence in Afghanistan" and has "... doubts and reservations about our current strategy and planned future strategy, but my resignation is based not upon how we are pursuing this war, but why and to what end." At least someone gets it, and if there is one, more will eventually follow.

The solution to return us to the status of producing the best and the brightest will only come when more of the current best and brightest stop following like sheep and admit there is a problem. Then, and only then, can we move forward.

The Things We Do For... PIZZA!

PIZZA!

So, how far would you drive for pizza? When I finish here, I will twitter that I met a friend for pizza. That's plain enough, but I wouldn't be writing this if there weren't a story behind the story, and there is.

My friend who joined me rode his motorcycle through rain and snow flakes for over four hours to join me for a pizza in Lincoln, NH. He came down from Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, to have pizza. That's 233 miles each way (approximately374.977 152 kilometers in Canadian measurement). We spent about an hour and a half eating and talking before he remounted his bike and headed back north as he wanted to be home before 6 PM (that's 6 PM in Canadian time). Fortunately, the weather for him was better on the way back than on the way down. He said he was coming down for pizza, and that's what he did.

One thing I hadn't factored in was the fact that there was foliage, which brought out the leaf peepers from all over - we saw license plates from Texas, Georgia, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and, of course, Massachusetts (many of whom I was glad I saw before they ran into me). Once I saw and approached the exit (maybe 1/3-mile away), it took me longer to get off the highway and to the pizzeria (maybe a mile) than the whole rest of the trip getting there (it's usually about 35 or 40 minutes for me). Cars waiting to exit queued up in the breakdown lane as the stop light on the main street let through five or six cars at a time before changing. It reminded me a lot of heading to the Weirs during Motorcycle Week.

Anyhow, it was great to see him, and we may do it again before year's end. I think next time he'll drive his car and maybe stay a bit longer. Of course, if I ever get my special card that allows me to travel in and out of Canada, maybe one of these months I can try some Canadian food.

So tired, tired of wating...

("Well, there you go again," spoken in a Ronald Reagan voice.)

("You often end up buying the salesperson not just the product!" spoken in a Dave Berman voice.)

So here I am having a house rehabbed, and as we are progressing, it's getting to be time for new appliances for the new kitchen. Whenever I have a sizable expenditure, I shop around a bit. In this case, I was looking for a refrigerator, stove and hood, and small under-counter dishwasher. About a month ago, I asked for and got bids from three area stores: Sears, Home Depot, and a place called Major Brands. All things considered, I decided on the latter. I had shopped there some years ago and vowed I'd never go back because of the amount of time I stood and waited without even being acknowledged, but that was years ago. This time, the store was empty and the saleslady came right over, spent time with me, helped me narrow, printed out spec sheets, etc. She won my business.

Well, when it was time to buy, I called and asked the saleslady if the information was still in the computer (it was) and if the products were readily available (she'd find out), so I said I'd be down in a couple of hours. I eventually got to the store (maybe 40 minutes away) and it was again empty... except for one couple talking to my saleslady, so I waited and looked around. After about five minutes, a man who had been on the phone asked if I needed any help (I am sure my friends will have some comment here). I said I had spoken to the lady before; he told me since I had already spoken to her, I should stick with her - she would just be a few more minutes. She wasn't. When she wasn't talking to the couple, instead of coming over to me to get the ball rolling, she went over to her computer and stood there concentrating on something there (probably was playing a Madden game). The couple kept coming back to her with more and more questions. After about fifteen minutes of standing there, I started getting edgy. When I had been waiting a full half hour, I finally gave up and walked out. I know, I know. She gives her customers (of the moment) her full attention. However, my time (and money) should be worth something. There wasn't even a look or an, "I'm sorry - I'll be with you as soon as I can." That might have tipped the scales and kept me there.)

Anyhow, I ended up checking out Lowe's on a whim. The store and salesman totally clicked with me! It all fell into place - quickly. I was (somewhat) happy to give them my money. They earned it!

Much ado over nothing? I don't know. Maybe. My brother always told me you need three things for a successful business: selection, price, and service but you can only have two of the three. Price is nice (especially these days), but I'll take the other two.

Oh, and by the way, I saved $400! Not too shabby! Not too shabby at all. Maybe I did get all three.

More Random Ramblings and Recurring Themes...

*Last night, my wife called me outside to watch bats flitting about. Pretty neat especially considering all the insects they eat.

*Former "Manson Family" member Susan Atkins, who stabbed actress Sharon Tate to death more than 40 years ago and is now terminally ill with brain cancer, has been denied parole. Atkins was 21 when she and other followers of Charles Manson participated in a two-night rampage that left seven people dead in August 1969. This is in contrast to the compassionate release of the "man" who was convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103 in December 1988, killing all 259 people on the plane and 11 people on the ground below in Lockerbie, Scotland. The difference? There are allegations that a deal was made in the latter case involving OIL!

*Interesting debate I have been having online about Ted Kennedy. Is he to be defined solely by Chappaquiddick, or should people consider all else he did? In a posthumous memoir, Kennedy says his actions on Chappaquiddick on July 18, 1969, were "inexcusable." He says he was afraid and "made terrible decisions" and had to live with the guilt for more than four decades. Too bad he couldn't say so while he was alive.

* Federal prosecutors hit Pfizer Inc. with a record-breaking $2.3 billion in fines this week and called the world's largest drugmaker a repeating corporate cheat for illegal drug promotions that plied doctors with free golf, massages, and resort junkets. Terrible... but how is that any different from what happens with politicians and their special interest groups and lobbyists?

*Acting on our impulses. A Georgia man allegedly slapped a toddler at a Walmart store because she wouldn't stop crying, authorities said. The man was arrested and charged with first-degree cruelty to children. According to the arresting officer, the child's mother said her daughter was crying as they walked down one of the aisles. The mother said a stranger later identified as Stephens approached them and said, "If you don't shut the baby up, I will shut her up for you."

*This offereing is sounding a lot like my weekly column (www.bermansbits.com)

*About that "person" who kidnapped the 11-year-old girl and held her for 18 years.... In 1976, he kidnapped a woman and raped her in a specially created chamber in Nevada not unlike the backyard warren he set up for Dugard. He was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. Yet, incredibly, a parole board set him free after just 11 years! Take the small criminals out of prison and keep those in who should be there!

*I have 58 available channels, and for the umpteenth time, this morning contained an hour in which there was nothing I wanted on in the background! There are two movies coming on at 8AM I have to choose between.

*Speaking of movies, I decided on "Something Beneath," a horror movie. I love a good horror movie and can watch almost anything. However, in the news over the past couple of days, there was a story and video I couldn't watch. Chicago-based Mercy for Animals says its undercover videotape at Hy-Line North America's hatchery in Spencer, Iowa, "exposes one of the industry's best-kept secrets — that the egg industry tears male chicks' bodies apart in grinding machines while they are still alive." According to Mercy for Animals, male chicks are of no use to the industry because they can't lay eggs and don't grow large or quickly enough to be raised profitably for meat. That results in the killing of 200 million male chicks a year. The full story and lots of interesting comments can be found at: http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/09/01/eggs-hatchery-male-chicks-grinder-killed.html

*Later.

Random Ramblings and Recurring Themes....

Any time we enjoy wasting is not wasted time! (Mafia Wars, Bejeweled Blitz, Chain Rxn)
The only James Bond to me is Sean Connery. Probably the one I least see as 007 is Roger Moore.
How much do drug manufacturers spend on TV and other advertising? What could drug prices be without all that advertising?
It's nice to be old enough to remember what good customer service is and should be, so when I don't get it, I can spend my money elsewhere. More people should and not adhere to blind obedience.
I think as a country the US has lost its way (or is at least off the path). I also think politics is too important to be left in the hands of the politicians. They owe too much to too many special interests. The philosophy should be People First.
I am going to miss "Monk," one of my favorite (yet sometimes irritating) characters.
One sign I am getting (or already am) old - I don't understand the lure of texting. I also can't understand why some people can't understand the concept of "Don't text and drive!"
I was a bit dismayed when I saw in these tough times that someone made a 1,224-pound triple vanilla cupcake with pink frosting to set a record as the world's largest - woo-hoo! Then I saw that slices of the cupcake were served in exchange for donations to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer organization. It's all good!
Boy, it's hazy, hot, and humid - it's an official heat wave, but it comes with the territory.
I am wondering if I should seriously run for office - I am disgusted with who we have for politicians. My basic credo would be to support what's best for the most people.
Comedy that is vulgar and in-your-face isn't comedy to me.
I wish I had been able to meet Jerry Orbach.
It's naive, but wouldn't it be nice if country A could say to Country B, "Look, we have something you need. You have something we need. Let's talk. We're all passengers on the spaceship Earth."
If you can count all your true, dear friends on your en fingers, you are doing very well (good food and good friends make me very wealthy indeed)!
I miss Peter Jennings and Elizabeth Vargas (and Walter Cronkite, Chet Huntley and David Brinkley). They don't make 'em like they used to (ABC's Charles G. and George S. are up there, though.)
I am getting closer to cleaning out my study area! (I've said that for years.)
That's it for now.

Ruh-roh, Raggy! We're in real trouble now!

`

The following news article means trouble! The short of it is that students are now going to be graded on their ability to demonstrate certain skills and abilities (competencies) rather than just on a numerical average and their ability to take tests (or freeze up during them). The article below explains the details. Can you imagine that... students passing because they are competent! What a novel concept.


New Gilford (NH) grading system intended to raise the bar

By HARRISON HAAS hhaas@citizen.com

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Students at Gilford (NH) High School will be graded a little differently than years past. Rather than being graded strictly on averages, every student will now need to demonstrate certain skills and abilities before receiving credit for classes (what a novel concept).

Earlier this year, GHS Principal Ken Wiswell approached both the Gilmanton and Gilford School Boards explaining the new grading that will start in the fall of the upcoming school year.

"What we're trying to do is tell the students this is important," said Wiswell at the June meeting. "It's not about just what [students] can produce and do while in the classroom."

Traditionally students in high school have been graded on a point scale and by the end of the year have an average with a letter grade corresponding with that number. With the new system, there is no overall average to be factored in, which will require all students to complete all items of work (another novel idea). Each subject will have a list of competencies, or list of skills and abilities, in which students will be given a number grade for each competency (we've written and rewritten them for years and years - no one ever really tested them). Students will be evaluated based on their ability is to perform a specific task, their work related skills in each subject along with behavior during classroom sessions. The average of those totals would then be taken and that would be the ending grade.

"There will be no more blowing off a test, having students say, 'If I fail this, I still pass the class'," Wiswell said. (Right, and if 30 percent don't make it under the new program, then what?)

Each department will have a list of standard abilities and skills, ranging from a list of three in basic courses and up to possibly six or seven in more advanced. GHS will be writing their own list of skills and abilities required for courses since every school is different (why? I still say we need a national Core Curriculum with local supplementation) that has this grading system, making each school write their own.

There are four different tiers mapped out in the mission competency rubric (buzz words), which explains the grading and what is expected of each student. The four tiers are similar to the state's standardized testing formats: advanced, proficient, partially proficient and below proficient (it sounds to me like only the top two tiers matter).

"Not asking students to have their hand up all day," said Wiswell. "We're going to evaluate students every two weeks." (Teachers have nothing else to do.)

Wiswell said that if the rubric is read over completely, there is nothing that any student can't do (so everyone passes? Is that raising or lowering the bar?). Minimum grade that a student can earn with be 59, which differs only one point from the previous 60. In order to receive credit for classes, students must master each one of the competencies per class (so now every student will be a good hire). Students not fulfilling all skills and abilities in a required course, will have to attend "competency recovery" classes after school or over the summer (but it was said there is nothing that any student can't do). Any student unfulfilling (must be admin-talk) more than one item on the skills and ability list will not receive credit for the course and will have to repeat the course. The additional time needed for competency recovery will be provided by the faculty who will be paid in a stipend based system.

Teachers will need to actively evaluate students every five days throughout the year. One of the purpose of the delayed opening Wednesdays for next year will help teachers adjust to the new grading system and provide them with education development time (if meeting after meeting isn't scheduled instead).

"This is setting all the students up to being better citizens, " said Derek Tomlinson in the June meeting. "I really like this, and I'm glad we're bring this in." (I really would like to hear the results after the first year.)

This past year, the school was asking teachers to give information about students who did pass, but would have failed one of the competencies. That information will be evaluated before the start of the next school year.

"I think it makes for a better product over the long run," said Wiswell. "It's not your grandfather's high school." (Yeah, it was a lot more rigorous then.)

He said it can be overwhelming at times for our teachers changing over to the new system. (Gee, you think? Maybe there will be time left over to prepare and correct.)

"The more we talk about these things, the more we'll be successful in doing things," Wiswell said.

Superintendent Dr. Paul DeMinico commented at the meeting that this system "really personalizes every student and follows them through."

Complete information about the new grading system will be available online before the 2009-2010 school year and in the next year's school handbook.