Peggy Noonan was a speech writer for Ronald Reagan, and then was an insightful commentator until she got Trump Derangement Syndrome. After the 2024 RNC Convention, she can’t quite come around.
Tag: WSJ
Equitable grading is just another way to lie about education. Some students will learn more and some will learn less. If grades mean anything, they should reflect a student’s demonstrable ability. Making excuses for students of unfortunate background doesn’t change their demonstrable ability.
Looking at the actual poll, I don’t think it’s that bad. People haven’t lost faith in concepts, but have learned that the people in charge of everything are inept.
WSJ: Gen-Z yearns for stability
WSJ: Gen-Z yearns for stability
Not long ago, a friend who teaches a communications course at a Midwestern business school asked me to speak to her class. Her instructions were invitingly wide: “Just tell them about your career.” And so I did, trying to hit all the points that might be relevant to students about to enter the job market.
Unmentioned in the article, and presumably the address to the class, is that Suzy is married to Jack Welch.
Surge Pricing comes to bowling
Surge Pricing comes to bowling
Mr. Yenni, a 42-year-old advertising executive, tried to book online in advance at AMF Boulevard Lanes, where he wanted to reserve two lanes for two hours at 3 p.m. on the last Thursday of the year during winter break. The price quoted by the website, run by national operator Bowlero Corp. , knocked him over: $418.90. “This strikes me as outrageous for a pedestrian family activity,” he said.
How bad do you want to go bowling?
Back in high school, to get rock concert tickets, you went to the Ticketron window on the second floor of Sears. My strategy was to go through the door to the Sears Automotive Department because it opened at 8:30 am. At 8:55, step over the rope to walk into Sears, go up the stairs, and buy a ticket as soon as the window opened. We got fourth or fifth row floor seats for Queen, Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen and I don’t recall who else.
That time has passed. We have computers now. Why shouldn’t companies let customers bid for the busy times or have the option to go when it’s cheaper? To be fair, the pricing can’t be too dynamic. Customers should be allowed to lock in a price, and they shouldn’t be changed to often. That allows the company to staff appropriately. Retired people or people working second or third shift get a discount. Nothing wrong with that.
Stressed? Burned out? Lonely? Dealing with a breakup? Conflict with a co-worker? Feeling down? The blanket recommendation for anyone going through a rough patch these days is to seek professional help, and many struggling Americans are doing just that.
First, underlying the blanket recommendations for therapy is the belief that stress of any kind is harmful. This line of thinking fails to recognize the growth that often accompanies challenging experiences.
We accept that physical stress brings physical growth. Any workout routine must be stressful to accomplish any results. We lift heavy weights to make lifting lighter weights easier. As a teacher, I know that the stress of assessments and difficult concepts improves the student’s ability to handle stress and learn more difficult concepts. Successful people come to appreciate the stress for the growth it brings.
Second, the therapy-is-the-answer model assumes that all therapy is beneficial. In fact, there is evidence that rehashing what is bothering you can actually worsen symptoms of anxiety and depression.
A trainer or teacher can get it wrong by applying the wrong kind of stress or stressing in a way that isn’t productive. Therapists want to help, but sometimes, the best thing is to work through shit on your own.
Even after a major life event, inviting people to talk about their feelings isn’t always helpful.
My hardest year ever, Dad passed away, then 9/11 happened, then Mom had a heart attack, then my oldest brother died in a plane crash.
When Chris died, I emailed my principal to tell her that I’d be out for a week. I had no sub plans, and honestly, have no idea what my students did that week. I also emailed a newspaper clipping describing the crash, and told the principal that when I got back to work, I’d prefer to not talk to people about what happened and how I was doing. My colleagues were warm and caring people, and I know that they would be concerned and want to help, but I couldn’t bear it. Carol was about the best principal ever, and I knew that she would take care of everything.
For me, getting back to work was the best thing. I learned that from handling the minor traumas that everyone faces.
A third limitation of the therapy-is-the-answer model is that it doesn’t take into account many other factors that contribute to well-being.
Smaller traumas help a person learn how to handle bigger traumas. Cowboy up, power through, get back on that horse, all that sort of thing. When I’m feeling down, painting something helps. Ongoing projects keep me emotionally healthy. Joe Rogan, on his podcast, frequently mentions that he needs to workout hard to keep sane. My buddy Sean knows that he is at his best when he is busy, on the verge of being overwhelmed. You don’t learn that by sitting down with a therapist and rehashing a bunch of unresolved feelings from awkward situations.
Sure, some people need therapy, but many people just need to get on with life and soldier on.
Middle Management Terrorize Their Bosses Into Going Woke
Middle Management Terrorize Their Bosses Into Going Woke
Wokeness, the authors conclude, typically originates from power-seeking middle managers looking to carve out areas of responsibility that enhance their job security. Think of career fields that tend to attract more Democrats, like the human-resource bureaucrats who manage diversity-training programs or advertising teams that design social-justice marketing campaigns.
Because younger generations are more likely to take to Twitter or similar platforms to tarnish a brand that offends their sensibilities, businesses get the idea that their customers are more left-leaning than they really are.
Companies go woke, thereby offending potential customers, because middle managers need to stand out somehow. Woke policies don’t make sense to upper management, so rather than push back, they capitulate. In addition, woke people are aggressive on social media, and upper management thinks that’s real.