Daily Blues & Views

 Our culture has always been confused about the difference between heroes and celebrities.  Even more so now.  We seem to equate the well-known with the exceptional.  No wonder all manner of folks from a professional wrestler to a professional con-man has been elected to political office.   Recently, we've lost some real cultural heroes.  That they became famous and thus celebrated has more to do with their character and deeds than their air-time.  How do you compare a Hank Aaron or a John Lewis, with a loudmouth salesman, a mediocre actor, or a paranoid bully?   You can't.  The medium really has become the message, hasn't it?   I'm bracing myself for the loss of more true heroes.  I'm at the age when my childhood idols are passing the torch and passing from this world.  Seems like they come in bunches these days.  But there are two, just over the age of 80 that will hit the hardest. My first two idols were ...

       When was the last time you were truly surprised?  Not pleasantly surprised, but truly surprised.  Was it a birthday party your friends and family pulled off behind your back, or the reaction of someone that radically did not fit your expectation?       Currently, some of us are continually being surprised by the feckless behavior of many politicians.  Their prioritizing party politics over morality or ethical behavior falls more under the heading of disappointment, but to see it from those we had a modicum of respect for is shocking.     Surprises are best when they come out of the blue.  I should say under the blue.  Nature provided me with two wonderful surprises on days when the sky was blue and bluer.       I was casting a fly one summer afternoon in the headwaters of the Deschutes River.  This is a magical little spot where the mighty Deschutes actually springs out of a small ...

     Had a thought today.  Many US Government or Civics teachers use the idea of a "Mock Congress" as an engaging way to teach how the Legislative branch of government works.  There are many forms of this activity but most depend on the size of the classes and the kind of facilities available.  Not to be confused with any large scale event like a Model UN or some sort of Boys/Girls State, the Mock Congress is for 1-3 classes to role-play how Congress works.       To do this effectively you need to have students play the role of the House of Representatives, Senators, and then the VP, Party leaders, and perhaps a Seargent of Arms, or even some members of the media.  The whole purpose of this effort is so that students can form committees and create, debate, and try to pass bills into law.  As things develop, many of the fine points of the process emerge.  Students try to compromise, re-write, and struggle to actually get so...