The Handwriting's on the Wall

Congratulations to Congress! The current Congress, the 112th, is the least productive Congress ever. One thing they did accomplish was to cut food stamps for the poor.

There is now a Chimp Retirement Plan for research chimps. But do they really need to retire? They have the experience to do some jobs in our country that would be helpful. Stephen highlighted just one of those jobs and gave details on why the chimps have the necessary credentials. Judging by the audience response, it was a popular idea.

In the Tip/Wag segment, it's always a treat when Stephen shares his 6th grade school picture with us. You can just see the sparkle in his eyes that tells you he was thinking journalism way back then. And to be a good journalist, you need to know how to write and that of course means cursive writing, or penmanship as we called it some years back. Ah the satisfaction of writing a row of e's or l's! I remember it fondly.

Remember Common Core? Those are educational standards and they don't include cursive? What?!? How can that be? Settle down, settle down. Instead of cursive, schools are teaching typing, or keyboarding to be more specific. Some people will not let this abandonment of cursive go easily though and there's a website, Cursive is Cool, with the details. (I only wish there website was in a cursive font, but I suppose there's no pleasing everyone.)


Personally, I can see advantages and benefits to teaching cursive. I think it is good to know how to curse when you are writing, but there is only so much time in the day, and would anyone say that kids today should not learn keyboarding? You can't even run a junkyard without having a computer inventory of all your junk cars and parts.

And did I mention that they have a website? The thing is, someone had to do keyboarding to put up that website.

There are many reasons for teaching and using cursive handwriting, in fact, there is even a list of 50 Reasons to Learn Cursive. Number 19 talks about the cost of handwriting versus technology:

"19. Handwriting is less expensive. Reducing cost is constantly an important factor with educational institutions. A simple piece and paper pencil is less expensive than keeping up with the latest electronic technology."

That is true, paper pencils are pretty darn cheap, but who is going to enroll their kid in a school that boasts "We don't use computers, we use paper and pencils!" And if you don't have computers, how will you look up the website for Cursive is Cool?

Stephen pointed out that AHAF (American Handwriting Analysis Foundation) is behind the website. So, if no one does handwriting, they will be out a job.

Rosa Parks sat on the bus all those years ago and it was important. The RNC posted on Twitter about her and then they posted again and kept it up until they finally had to stop. First they said, "Today we remember Rosa Parks' bold stand and her role in ending racism."


For more on Rosa Parks, you might really enjoy this segment by Jon Stewart over at the Daily Show. That's right, I'm sending Colbert fans over to take a look at Stewart. He has some good ideas also.

For Platinum Members, Stephen highlighted Freedom Ship. If you hurry, you can reserve your place on the ship for a mere $9 million. But that comes with amenities, carpets, lights, and finished walls.

Curse me. I spent so much time on Cursive Writing that I've run out of my ability to type any more letters. Typing takes so very long. Bryan Stevenson was Stephen's guest way back last Wednesday and he talked about the Equal Justice Initiative. I urge you to go take a look at the website. You can also view the interview with Stephen at that website or over at Colbert Nation.