A View from Outside the Box

I could write much about Scotland’s innovations, its contribution to education, government, philosophy, technology, industry, art, music and more, but today, on St. Andrew’s Day, I want to leave you with an image that combines two of my favourite qualities - ingenuity and humour. What do you think of the Scottish kilt wearer’s stool?

(For image source, click here.)

“We do give mixed and disturbing messages to our young, living in a highly sexualised time, where we hardly notice gratuitous sex and violence, but the sight of a naked man is flagrant criminal behaviour. ’One radio commentator remarked that this was a matter of protecting our children, as Mr. Gough could be a paedophile, thus implying that clothing is an indicator of healthy sexuality.”

© S. Marian, Oct. 23, 2012

An excerpt from a piece titled, “Man Makes the Clothes,” to be found on “A View From Outside the Box,” url: adialogue. To view full piece click here.

(For photo source click here)

Your Tax Explained

Tax his land, Tax his bed, Tax the table, At which he’s fed ..

Tax his work, Tax his pay, He works for peanuts anyway!

Tax his cow, Tax his goat, Tax his breeks, Tax his coat .

Tax his baccy, Tax his drink, Tax him if he tries to think .

Tax his car, Tax his gas, Find other ways to tax his ass .

Tax all he has then let him know that you won’t be done
Till he has no dough .

When he screams and hollers; Then tax him some more,
Tax him till he’s good and sore .

Then tax his coffin, Tax his grave, Tax the sod in which he’s laid .

When he’s gone, Do not relax, It’s time to apply the inheritance tax .

Accounts Receivable Tax
Airline surcharge tax
Airline Fuel Tax
Airport Maintenance Tax
Building Permit Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Goods and Services Tax (GST)
Death Tax
Driving Permit Tax
Environmental Tax (Fee)
Excise Taxes
Income Tax
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Petrol Tax (too much per litre)
Gross Receipts Tax
Health Tax
Inheritance Tax
Interest Tax
Heating Tax
Lighting Tax
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Mortgage Tax and his pension
Personal Income Tax
Property Tax
Poverty Tax
Prescription Drug Tax
Real Estate Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Retail Sales Tax
Service Charge Tax
School Tax & Tax what he buys and what he sells
Telephone Tax
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Water Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
Tax (VAT) on Tax .
And Now they want a Carbon Tax!

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago …
& our nation was one of the most prosperous in the world .
We had absolutely no national debt, had a large middle class, a huge manufacturing base, and women stayed home to raise the kids.

What in the Hell happened?
Could it be the lying parasitic politicians wasting our money?
Oh, and don’t forget the relatively new bank charges ..
And we all know what we think of Bankers .

(So very true. Many thanks to the brilliant Mr. Stoddart for his interpretation of the UK tax system, click here for source.)

I want to talk to you about jumping through hoops. I just spoke to my son’s guidance counsellor about his ‘academic tutorial’ block. She suggested that as he had a relatively heavy academic load, plus two online courses, an academic tutorial would be really useful. It was explained that should he need assistance, a teacher would be on hand to provide it. The teacher assigned this block specialises in French and Social Studies - he doesn’t take French and needs no help with Social Studies. He’s been coming home to work during the block but I have to call the school and then he’s registered as an ‘excused absence.’ Today I suggested that as his time would be better served at home, doing homework or working on his online courses, he’d like to drop the block. I also didn’t like that his absences are mounting in a class he never chose, and of no use to him, in order to jump through the hoops. The counsellor asked us to wait another week and then he could drop the course. It seems that providing he’s still registered for this ‘course’ by September 30, the school will get the desired funding. It has nothing to do with good academic choices or supporting learning but has everything to do with money. I told myself that if the school has more money, no matter where its acquired or why, it’s a good thing. It’s not though. Had I not intervened, my son would have been registered for a useless course (to him) he never selected, with a year’s absences to show for it. We all have to jump through hoops at times and that’s fine, as long as you see them, it’s your choice and you know why you’re doing it.

Have a look at Tony Gurr’s ‘allthingslearning’ blog, dedicated to joined up thinking in teaching. The image was found there, follow the source link for more.

Fortunately the United States is not full of Mitt Romneys, there is but one and he is more than enough. Interestingly, if you google ‘foot in mouth’ as I just did, he comes up repeatedly.

Having spent some of this morning watching the opening ceremony of the Olympics, I came across the history behind the Union Jack we have been seeing so much of. It dates back to 1801, and it’s interesting to see its evolution but a shame that Wales is omitted. There were proposals by a Welsh MP in 2007 to change the flag to reflect Wales status in the Union but some felt the move would be unpopular. Amanda Burton’s design looks the best visually with the dragon drawn over the traditional Union Jack but the dragon does rather dominate the show.

“I hope we can all puncture pomposity at times, ridicule the over inflated in a light and ironic way - I think it’s healthy. It may even be a way to avoid conflict. One Foreign Office bright spark has gone so far as to suggest that irony is at the centre of modern foreign policymaking. Now that’s ironic.”

© S. Marian, July 24, 2012

An excerpt from “A Small Box of Crystallised Fruit,” to be found on “A View From Outside the Box,” url: adialogue

“Well yes I really miss the use of ‘irony’! I know that I am still misunderstood but I am much more careful now.”

This from Miss.R. via email about the piece “A Small Box of Crystallised Fruit” (url: adialogue)

We’re about half and half on those that miss irony, Canadians that assure me they have it, one whose friends don’t understand her ‘humour.’

“

On irony and the post, “A Small Box of Crystallised Fruit”

From the very alert ‘memeengine’…

“A couple of laugh-out-loud moments from your long post!” I wonder if the Prime Minister feels much the same…” HAH! Funnily enough, I wouldn’t have identified this style of humour as irony. I would have said it was…humour through exaggeration? I suppose an ironic joke would actually have to prevent people from laughing…”

Thus demonstrating that memeengine has reached ironic status himself, his little photo shows him with his cat, fast asleep but this philosopher is wide awake! Thanks to you memeengine for your comment.

“Irony, separate to its cousin, sarcasm, is much more rebellious and subtle but also more fun. It invites the persons present to join in the joke and pokes fun at those who don’t, in a way they may not even recognise.”

Excerpt from “A Box of Crystallised Fruit,” to be found on “A View From Outside the Box,” url: adialogue