Archive
IRS managerial incompetence: as if
IRS malfeasance: what a farce, to claim this is simple negligence and that “mistakes were made, nothing to see here, move along”.
if it really were incompetence, then you would expect for a number of errors of this type to be committed that crossed all sorts of political boundaries, but because ONLY conservative groups were systematically investigated and delayed then it is clearly evidence of a different sort of agenda.
This isn’t simple negligence, this isn’t even gross negligence; this is willful misconduct and is the consequence of too much power centralized in Washington.
This is nothing other than simple power politics, using the instruments of bruite bureaucracy to reward your friends and punish your enemies, and all the civil liberties people who ought found their voices to rage against the Patriot Act are typically silent when its not their ox being gored
Related articles
Models and “maps” as guides to thinking
In the OD network on LinkedIn a question was asked “What models have you found to be effective?”
my thoughts were:
Models are maps.
I once used a map to help navigate an unfamiliar territory.
At different times the map was alternately more and less helpful.
It’s good to know the uses and limits of maps.
It’s interesting to be a map-maker.
It’s good to know how good is the map is
It’s good to learn to judge the opinions of others about maps
I trust the maps of trustworthy scouts
Don’t forget to look where you going while you consult the map
You might want to look around first before you consult the map
You might want to look around AND consult the map before you start walking
If being tracked by wolves, you better not consult the map for too long
You either have to go to unfamiliar places or wait for the world to bring you what you need
Related articles
Online courseware
am eating my own cooking by starting 2 online courses as a student: the Sante Fe Institute’s MOOC on Complexity nad the MIT course on Creative Learning. I am in Lesson 1 of complexity and having a blast. Its well done and highly recommended already
Reflections on Grading classroom participation
I like to use a scoring system from 0-3 (Hattip to Professor Dave Garvin at Harvard)
3- added significantly to the discussion with an insight that shows evidence of synthesis and/or deep insight
2 – contributed in a meaningful professional way that demonstrates appropriate mastery of the subject and evidence of preparation for class
1- attended but was a free rider in the discussions, did not contribute to the learning of others
0 – did not attend
Some people learn by talking and hearing their thoughts and through collaborative dialogue. If they say it 9 times wrong and then 1 time correct when they finally get it, did their 10 “contributions” outweigh the participative value of the introvert who has carefully prepared their insight, and offers a single cogent, deeply penetrating insightful summary that makes us all smarter?.
Participation grades are not “merely” opinion. A professional opinion, inhabiting the land between pure objectivity and pure subjectivity, is an opinion that is informed by both theory and practice and carries more weight than “just an opinion”. This point of view reflects a consideration of teaching as “craft” in which informed judgment is more than “just an opinion”. The judgment is not absolute, can be judged by peers and students, and be subject to calibration and standards of evidence like all craft work.
One of my concerns with grading participation concerns the motivation to participate: we want people to participate as a way to encourage an inquiring mind for its own sake, and not in order to meet a minimum number of speaking events in public to secure a grade. It seems to me that the effect of the contribution on others and as a window into the preparation and thought processes of the student is more important than the motivation behind the offering, and so, to “reward” the participator, and to respect the effort they put into the participation, it seems fair to assign grades for participation based on professional judgment. Studies of allowing anonymous peer grading demonstrate that in adult education peers are pretty well aligned with teacher judgments about quality of contribution.
Related articles
Congressional pay freeze recommendation doesn’t go far enough
I applaud the idea, but it doesn’t go far enough. How about Congressmen get a pay cut proportional to the size of the deficit budgets they pass? So, this year they should receive a 40% pay cut
Congratulations to President Obama for passing a bill to spend more money and raise more taxes. That’s the leadership you voted for
Related articles
RLCO case study rlco20121227uvxy
http://youtu.be/rsAjKS5shLI RLCO case study rlco20121227uvxy
Future Force game in the news at the Army Times
A nice write-up in the Army Times on the Future Force game I designed for the Command & General Staff College. It was cool to see my family commenting in the discussion session.
Related articles
- Congressional negotiators reach tentative deal on payroll tax cut, jobless aid … – Fox News (foxnews.com)
- Economic Growth Gives Lift to Obama in NYT/CBS Poll – New York Times (nytimes.com)
- Obama stresses economic roles with China’s expected new leader – CNN International (edition.cnn.com)
- White House unveils tougher Iran oil curbs – Financial Times (ft.com)
- Divided Opposition: Key to Syrian Power – TIME (time.com)
mkt20121227
market health check Dec 27, 2012
The gift that keeps on giving: congratulations Mr President
The sound you hear is of chickens coming home to roost:
Companies reducing hours and raising prices as a consequence of impending health care cost increases, and the Dims saying :O:O:O
Hostess going out of business because of union recalcitrance
Layoffs in Ohio and Pa…in the auto industry! (enjoy your votes)
Middle East meltdown
Unaware of significant leadership challenges at the director level (CIA, DoD)
Obama re-election is already paying off
Obama’s re-election has been profitable for us in the trading room. Unfortunately, the market is suffering just like the nation, from the election. But you get the government you deserve. The market is taking into account that he has no record of actually being able to accomplish anything except fooling most of the people part of the time, long enough to get re-elected. Expecting him to be unable to do anything about the fiscal cliff, the repositioning overseas and into Treasuries has begun. The best we have to look forward to is listening to 4 years of what his legacy will be, and listening to that smug hack Biden position himself for 2016
Official photographic portrait of US President Barack Obama (born 4 August 1961; assumed office 20 January 2009) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
the Obama effect: FUD
Related articles
