Damn it all

Damn it all straight to hell.

You hear me, proprietor of hell?  You're going to be getting a cluster f--- of everything heading your way.  Prepare.

Okay vulgarities aside.  I was feeling good.  I did more research into the ABCTE program for teacher certification.  Looked into Idaho and found out they do accept ABCTE certificates for a state license.  I thought, "Sweet!  I can do this online certification and be ready to apply for a state license early 2012 and be ready to go for the hiring period to start in the fall of the 2012.  That way I have a summer off before starting up again, providing I get a position!"  Well when I looked into the test requirements it would appear I have to go to a testing center for them.  Makes sense in terms of testing, but this did not occur to me seeing as how the program is online.  This will not do!  I also need a federal background check which is a bunch baloney and a scam.  You send 30 odd dollars to the state for fingerprints and another 18 to the FBI for them to tell you that you do not have a record.  No shit FBI!  The fingerprints I could probably work around but my plan of getting experience here in Korea while getting certified to teach in God's country has been destroyed.

So now I have yet another year of un-fulfilling shit jobs no matter how I shake the spoon at it.  If I say screw you Korea come home now, I still need to work.  If I wait and come home in may to start, everything will be pushed back to 2013.  My best hope is for the world to be destroyed in 2012.  Why do things never work out as planned?  With that said 2012 will be a great year of global prosperity and peace.  Or all the boring crap that keeps conflict at bay.

BLEH.  Now I have nothing to look forward to.

Common Sense

I finished Common Sense last week, but haven't gotten around to summing up the read.  After reading the pamphlet I have some questions and ponderings.

Seceding from the Crown is treason.  The speaking of or planning of secession is more than likely viewed to be treasonous.  It seems to me, to be convinced of the need of secession, a pamphlet calling to do so would need to be cognitive and cite specific grievances.  Which Common Sense does not do.  The pamphlet works mostly in the state of nature.  It is unnatural for this relationship to continue and since it is against the state of nature it will continue to create friction.

Paine argues for independence over reconciliation.  His main reasoning is that cutting ties will solve the issues and not prolong them to worsen with time.  Also, calling it quits is easier.  The most information Paine gives into the issue of independence over reconciliation comes from the four things he lists as a reasons for independence.  I have paraphrased them below:

1.  No other country can mediate as long as America remains a subject of Great Britain

2.  No foreign aid to help us against Great Britain if we remain a subject of Great Britain - why would France or Spain help America which would be strengthening their enemy of Great Britain?

3.  We must appear to be rebels to foreign powers - all those in power fear rebellion wherever it may be

4.  We must send a declaration of our peace and grievances not only to Great Britain but to other courts as well to outline our troubles and efforts of reconciliation.  We must also extend a hand of friendship and trade to these courts. Basically, make friends!

What he is saying here, is that negotiations will continue to be one sided.  Talks will be a waste of time and yield no conclusion favorable for the colonies because there is no party to force the King to do so.

What the pamphlet's lack of grievances tells me is that the American people did not need to be told.  Everyone every where had felt or come into contact with the King's tyrannical policies in some way.  Independence was not the first option.  In the beginning it was probably not even on the minds.  After all, most Americans felt and believed they were still British subjects, but most Britons held the colonists on a lower tier.  I am trying to put together an argument for the Loyalists but I am having a hard time.  Maybe we will settle on calling them CANADIANS.  Some of the Loyalists fled to Canada.

I jotted down some neat quotes I think are relevant to today.

"We are already greater than the King wishes us to be, and will he not endeavor to make us less?"

"...that it would be policy of the King at this time, to repeal the acts for the sake of reinstating himself in the government of the provinces; in order that he may accomplish by craft and subtlety, in the long run, what he cannot do by force and violence in the short one..."

Paine also views the role of government is to, "Secure freedom and property to all men, and above all things the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience."

Paine sounds very American.  Which is kind of strange seeing as how he emigrated to the Colonies in 1774 when it was suggested to him by Benjamin Franklin.  Paine had a lot of failed endeavors when he was in England either due to misfortune or laziness on his part.  He started to frequent intellectual circles that got him thinking on things and somehow came into contact with great Americans like Franklin.  I find this interesting.  Here we have a man viewed to have written a great document that is considered to have great influence on the American people to seek independence from the Crown.  He sounds like an American in his philosophy but he was hardly an American by time he wrote Common Sense.

I am inclined to believe, after a brief look into his past endeavors and finding nothing of value, that Paine was proficient in reading the currents.  He had positioned himself to be introduced to the ideas of great thinkers.  He also mixed himself up with a revolution twice.  I have a hard time believing in 1774 he did not have an idea or a want to see an American revolution.  Why else did he come here, other than to escape debtors prison?  (Another story for another time perhaps)  When the French revolution loomed on the horizon he ran off to stir up anyone and everyone.

I feel I do not yet know enough of the man to pass judgement.  I can't help but feeling, "Thanks for push and solidarity your pamphlet seemingly brought to the American people, bro, but it was nice of you to run off to France so we were rid of your mischief!"

Go to your room

This has always bothered me and I'm in an off enough mood right now to comment about it ON THE INTERNET.  Har Har I showed them.

Anyway, whenever something slightly out of the ordinary happens I get sent away, relieved of my teaching duties.  Yesterday, 9 students out of around 25 were absent due to some other school activity.  It was therefore IMPOSSIBLE (capitalized because that is the word my co-teacher used) for me to have class.  So I was sent to my room.  Today, just now, the monitor in the classroom is on the fritz.  UH OH!  Off to your room, Manley.

I don't know.  I would like to sit and observe class.  I came to Korea to teach and above all, learn how to teach.    But I guess I'm more of an accessory.  Like that old ugly broach your Aunt Mable gave you that you only wear on Thanksgiving and Christmas and then only if she's around.  Hurry up and die Aunt Mable so I am free of this broach.  I don't recall having an Aunt Mable, if I do, apologies Aunt Mable.

In short, most of the time I feel removed from normal teaching duties.  I don't know if this is how they have treated previous teachers or if they passed judgement on me and feel I am not up to the task of anything more than playing sound clips.

In an attempt to escape my reality into the fantasy of history I have finished Common Sense.  I will post my final thoughts on it.  Stay tuned.  History is interesting if you give it a chance.  No guys, seriously...guys...guys?!

A very convincing argument...

...to cease all sushi consumption and to never go to Australia is presented in this article.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/07/05/tiny-worms-with-teeth-attack-sicken-couple/

The worms have tiny little teeth and can go anywhere they like in the body.  They can hang out for fifteen years wreaking havoc on the body until they either die or are finally vanquished by the immune system.

It's a shame, I've always wanted to go to Australia, contrary to my belief everything there can and will eat me.  I'll have to dose up on chemo before I go.  Come feast on my radioactive flesh!

Just thought I'd share.  Take a temporary rest from history to maybe draw back the people AWL after history crept it's way into the blog.