Interview in four parts. I forgot it was on this morning so was not prepared to tape it. When I realized it was on I taped it with a program that tapes in five minute segments. Most of the interview is there but there are small gaps. The first 20 seconds or so has a loud ambient background sound FYI:
Saturday, January 07, 2012
Monday, January 02, 2012
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Education Not Opposition
Even among legislators in Connecticut the revelation that I am not a member of the Education Committee is often met with shock. I do admit that my involvement in education policy is perhaps more visible than usual for a legislator not on the committee. So, when Rishawn Biddle, writing for Dropout Nation describes me as the co-chair of the education committee it is really not all that much of a surprise:
Whether or not any of his proposals come to fruition is a different story. For one, Malloy is squabbling with fellow Democrats who control the state’s legislature; some aren’t exactly too pleased with some of Malloy’s plans, including the consolidation of the state’s community colleges into one system akin to those in Indiana, and are even less pleased with Malloy’s success in gaining more authority to cut the state’s budget. Malloy is having particular trouble with Gary Holder-Winfield — who co-chairs the legislature’s education committee — and Roberta Willis (Holder-Winfield’s counterpart on the higher education panel); this will make it difficult for Malloy to pass any school reform legislation...read the article
Much has been made of my relationship with Governor Malloy of late. Questions began when I voted against extending extra rescission authority to the governor and my public stance that the jobs session did not adequately address the issue in the state only added fuel to the growing fire. By the time my thinking on early childhood education was made public and seemed to contradict Malloy's some were asking why I was working against the governor. With the printing of Ted Mann's series on Malloy in some people's mind it was solidified that I was a full fledged enemy of the state (the retelling of the story therein is not quite accurate but those are the hazards of being a public figure). The truth though is that I have no general opposition to this governor or any other.
My position is that the legislature has a role to play and must act as an independent branch of government not an extension of the Executive branch. There is a reason the system is designed as it is. I am not given to opposing the governor's education reform unless it seems to be bad policy. As stated in the Biddle piece what we have at this point from the Malloy administration is really just the broad outline of his education reform plan. Opposing that really makes little sense at this point. I will wait until I can see what the meat on the bone looks like before taking a position for or against the proposal. In the meantime I have engaged Malloy's education commissioner Stefan Pryor to see where we can work together to change education in the state for the better. Ultimately this should be about education not opposition.
Whether or not any of his proposals come to fruition is a different story. For one, Malloy is squabbling with fellow Democrats who control the state’s legislature; some aren’t exactly too pleased with some of Malloy’s plans, including the consolidation of the state’s community colleges into one system akin to those in Indiana, and are even less pleased with Malloy’s success in gaining more authority to cut the state’s budget. Malloy is having particular trouble with Gary Holder-Winfield — who co-chairs the legislature’s education committee — and Roberta Willis (Holder-Winfield’s counterpart on the higher education panel); this will make it difficult for Malloy to pass any school reform legislation...read the article
Much has been made of my relationship with Governor Malloy of late. Questions began when I voted against extending extra rescission authority to the governor and my public stance that the jobs session did not adequately address the issue in the state only added fuel to the growing fire. By the time my thinking on early childhood education was made public and seemed to contradict Malloy's some were asking why I was working against the governor. With the printing of Ted Mann's series on Malloy in some people's mind it was solidified that I was a full fledged enemy of the state (the retelling of the story therein is not quite accurate but those are the hazards of being a public figure). The truth though is that I have no general opposition to this governor or any other.
My position is that the legislature has a role to play and must act as an independent branch of government not an extension of the Executive branch. There is a reason the system is designed as it is. I am not given to opposing the governor's education reform unless it seems to be bad policy. As stated in the Biddle piece what we have at this point from the Malloy administration is really just the broad outline of his education reform plan. Opposing that really makes little sense at this point. I will wait until I can see what the meat on the bone looks like before taking a position for or against the proposal. In the meantime I have engaged Malloy's education commissioner Stefan Pryor to see where we can work together to change education in the state for the better. Ultimately this should be about education not opposition.
Education Not Opposition
Even among legislators in Connecticut the revelation that I am not a member of the Education Committee is often met with shock. I do admit that my involvement in education policy is perhaps more visible than usual for a legislator not on the committee. So, when Rishawn Biddle writing for Dropout Nation describes me as the co-chair of the education committee it is really not all that much of a surprise:
Whether or not any of his proposals come to fruition is a different story. For one, Malloy is squabbling with fellow Democrats who control the state’s legislature; some aren’t exactly too pleased with some of Malloy’s plans, including the consolidation of the state’s community colleges into one system akin to those in Indiana, and are even less pleased with Malloy’s success in gaining more authority to cut the state’s budget. Malloy is having particular trouble with Gary Holder-Winfield — who co-chairs the legislature’s education committee — and Roberta Willis (Holder-Winfield’s counterpart on the higher education panel); this will make it difficult for Malloy to pass any school reform legislation...read the article
Much has been made of my relationship with Governor Malloy of late. Questions began when I voted against extending extra rescission authority to the governor and my public stance that the jobs session did not adequately address the issue in the state only added fuel to the growing fire. By the time my thinking on early childhood education was made public and seemed to contradict Malloy's some were asking why I was working against the governor. With the printing of Ted Mann's series on Malloy in some people's mind it was solidified that I was a full fledged enemy of the state (the retelling of the story therein is not quite accurate but those are the hazards of being a public figure). The truth though is that I have no general opposition to this governor or any other.
My position is that the legislature has a role to play and must act as an independent branch of government not an extension of the Executive branch. There is a reason the system is designed as it is. I am not given to opposing the governor's education reform unless it seems to be bad policy. As stated in the Biddle piece what we have at this point from the Malloy administration is really just the broad outline of his education reform plan. Opposing that really makes little sense at this point. I will wait until I can see what the meat on the bone looks like before taking a position for or against the proposal. In the meantime I have engaged Malloy's education commissioner Stefan Pryor to see where we can work together to change education in the state for the better. Ultimately this should be about education not opposition.
Whether or not any of his proposals come to fruition is a different story. For one, Malloy is squabbling with fellow Democrats who control the state’s legislature; some aren’t exactly too pleased with some of Malloy’s plans, including the consolidation of the state’s community colleges into one system akin to those in Indiana, and are even less pleased with Malloy’s success in gaining more authority to cut the state’s budget. Malloy is having particular trouble with Gary Holder-Winfield — who co-chairs the legislature’s education committee — and Roberta Willis (Holder-Winfield’s counterpart on the higher education panel); this will make it difficult for Malloy to pass any school reform legislation...read the article
Much has been made of my relationship with Governor Malloy of late. Questions began when I voted against extending extra rescission authority to the governor and my public stance that the jobs session did not adequately address the issue in the state only added fuel to the growing fire. By the time my thinking on early childhood education was made public and seemed to contradict Malloy's some were asking why I was working against the governor. With the printing of Ted Mann's series on Malloy in some people's mind it was solidified that I was a full fledged enemy of the state (the retelling of the story therein is not quite accurate but those are the hazards of being a public figure). The truth though is that I have no general opposition to this governor or any other.
My position is that the legislature has a role to play and must act as an independent branch of government not an extension of the Executive branch. There is a reason the system is designed as it is. I am not given to opposing the governor's education reform unless it seems to be bad policy. As stated in the Biddle piece what we have at this point from the Malloy administration is really just the broad outline of his education reform plan. Opposing that really makes little sense at this point. I will wait until I can see what the meat on the bone looks like before taking a position for or against the proposal. In the meantime I have engaged Malloy's education commissioner Stefan Pryor to see where we can work together to change education in the state for the better. Ultimately this should be about education not opposition.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
We Will Abolish The Death Penalty
Last week Sunday in the Hartford Courant an editorial I wrote ran. If you missed it you can find it linked here
Two recent attempts by the Connecticut General Assembly to pass a bill to abolish the death penalty have been rebuffed. First, former Gov. M. Jodi Rell vetoed a bill that had passed the legislature. Then, when another bill was raised, relatives of murder victims were able to persuade legislators to change their positions, which led to the measure's defeat.
Despite these setbacks and strong public sentiment stirred by the trials of Joshua Komisarjevsky and Steven Hayes for the terrible murders in Cheshire, I will again seek to pass an abolition bill in 2012...read more
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Strung Out On Compliments and Overdosed On Confidence, Indeed
Just because I put my garbage in one of those scented bags doesn't mean that I suddenly become unaware that it stinks or that it is still in fact garbage.
Apparently a scented bag is all it takes to convince some of us to hold onto as opposed to dumping our trash.
I took to Twitter on Tuesday to say the Drake's 'Make Me Proud' is a steaming pile of crap and that I had plans to go in on him (and that song) like, to borrow from another Young Money rapper, somebody bout to bury me*. No sooner had I announced as much had the defenses of Drake begun to roll in even before people knew what the issue was.
'Cause you know, Drake...Drake is different.
...he's the alternative...just look at him (yes they said that)
...he's the alternative...his music doesn't sound like that other stuff (uh huh they said that too)
...he's the alternative...he makes songs for women (yeah just the one I was waiting for).
And, that's what this is about Drake's woman songs particularly 'Make Me Proud'.
Driving along content to bob my head and ignore the words to half of the garbage that clutters the airwaves I am smacked across the face - hard - when I hear:
It's one of those record scratching, wait a minute, what the (choose your own expletive) did he say moments. Oh no he di' 'int! I'm sitting in the car like, I know this fool... didn't just spit... what I think he did. There is just so much wrong with the line and if you just look at his usage of the word like you will understand that essentially what he is spitting directly into your subconscious over a hypnotic beat is the resuscitation and reinforcement of the notion of the inferiority of the HBCU.
By the way, why is it that she probably went to Howard anyway?
As if this wasn't enough to classify this song as garbage (it is) I then became curious and decided to pay attention to the rest of the words of the song - why did I do that
Drake begins by describing what he likes telling us that a little attitude problem is all good because it will make it last. When he describes the woman's attitude however one has to wonder why it's a problem. According to his lyrics her attitude is one of dedication to her health, accumulation of knowledge and respect for the value of her body. That's a problem for whom exactly?!?
The attitude problem is really revealed in Drake's final words to his muse:
Apparently a scented bag is all it takes to convince some of us to hold onto as opposed to dumping our trash.
I took to Twitter on Tuesday to say the Drake's 'Make Me Proud' is a steaming pile of crap and that I had plans to go in on him (and that song) like, to borrow from another Young Money rapper, somebody bout to bury me*. No sooner had I announced as much had the defenses of Drake begun to roll in even before people knew what the issue was.
'Cause you know, Drake...Drake is different.
...he's the alternative...just look at him (yes they said that)
...he's the alternative...his music doesn't sound like that other stuff (uh huh they said that too)
...he's the alternative...he makes songs for women (yeah just the one I was waiting for).
And, that's what this is about Drake's woman songs particularly 'Make Me Proud'.
Driving along content to bob my head and ignore the words to half of the garbage that clutters the airwaves I am smacked across the face - hard - when I hear:
Sounds so smart, like you graduated collegeLike you went to Yale, but you probably went to Howard
It's one of those record scratching, wait a minute, what the (choose your own expletive) did he say moments. Oh no he di' 'int! I'm sitting in the car like, I know this fool... didn't just spit... what I think he did. There is just so much wrong with the line and if you just look at his usage of the word like you will understand that essentially what he is spitting directly into your subconscious over a hypnotic beat is the resuscitation and reinforcement of the notion of the inferiority of the HBCU.
By the way, why is it that she probably went to Howard anyway?
As if this wasn't enough to classify this song as garbage (it is) I then became curious and decided to pay attention to the rest of the words of the song - why did I do that
Drake begins by describing what he likes telling us that a little attitude problem is all good because it will make it last. When he describes the woman's attitude however one has to wonder why it's a problem. According to his lyrics her attitude is one of dedication to her health, accumulation of knowledge and respect for the value of her body. That's a problem for whom exactly?!?
The attitude problem is really revealed in Drake's final words to his muse:
You said niggas coming on too strong girlThey want you in their life as a wife
That's why you wanna have no sex, why you wanna protest
Why you wanna fight for your right
Cause you don't love them boys
Pussy run everything, fuck that noise
Is the withholding of sex really Drake's understanding of a woman's ability to evince she values herself. Would that it were a man - his muse - that this even be considered? What if she chooses to have sex. What if she chooses to have sex with men who see her real value? And, what the hell does that have to do with anything necessarily anyway?
I am just gonna let that marinate while I move on to Nicki Minaj and the problem she presents for this song. Minaj plays the role of the muse who Drake is oh so proud of. Here she answers back giving her perspective and when she does lost are all of the trite references to salad eating, going to college or even witholding sex. Nicki of the protuberant pudendum a la Lil' Kim once again thrusts her sex at us once she hits the track*:
But I never mention everything I dabble inAnd I always ride slow when I'm straddlin'
And my shit's so wet you gotta paddle in
Gotta ro-ro-row, gotta row ya boat
It's Pink Friday records and OVO
Minaj's sexuality is actually played down on this track as the focus is mainly on her acquisition of the material. What is sad for me is that unlike many people I know I think Nicki is a talent that is confined by her image as much as it is supposed to be what allows her freedom. Many women use that which is supposed to box them in such a way that it becomes a strength the problem with Minaj's attempt at this is that to this point I don't believe it has worked. While she and Kim have issues Kim is a good study how this might be accomplished in the rap game (although there are many issues there too). But I digress...
What Nicki Minaj does here is demonstrate that Drake is full of crap. There is no way that he could believe what he spits and be happy that the verse she adds to the song pushes the concept forward. No, what you see here is the pealing back of the facade to reveal the actor Aubrey peaking through the character Drake. It's like watching (and I know I am going to catch hell for this) Denzel Washington in a movie no matter how good he is there are always these little ticks that are distinctly Denzel which if you watch closely shine through.
But let me not put on Drake my assumptions let's have him speak for himself (read the last two questions and answers).
In the first 14 seconds the beat has you and the words don't matter when he begins rapping. It's a song, like his others, designed to move units and or increase spins by getting you to bob your head and think - oh that's my song - I get that but it really is a steaming pile.
Oh, and stop telling me about how you went to Howard and like the song or know some women who like it. So what! As if co-signing makes it any less paternalistic, derogatory or just plain inane. You like it good...
...still garbage
...sorry
Anyway, I gotta go I think my garbage needs to be taken out.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Gotta Get Motivated
I woke up this morning at 3:30 which isn't all that unusual for me. I go to sleep late and wake up early. It's what I do. People ask how I get so many things done and I tell them it's simple...my day has more hours than most. This morning however, I wasn't feeling motivated. Yeah, I was up at 3:30 but I wasn't feeling like going to the gym, reading a bunch of newspapers and blogs as per usual. I wasn't feeling motivated.
It happens.
I rolled over and decided to just lay in bed for a while but that just made me feel, well, like crap. I picked up my computer (which was on...I never shut it down. When I wake up I can just go immediately) and went to YouTube to a video I am familiar with:
It happens.
I rolled over and decided to just lay in bed for a while but that just made me feel, well, like crap. I picked up my computer (which was on...I never shut it down. When I wake up I can just go immediately) and went to YouTube to a video I am familiar with:
When I was done watching the video I got up and went to the gym. And, I found in the gym something that has been missing there for a long time - focus. When I was younger I went through workout partners like a warm knife through butter. My focus was very intense and being my workout partner was unpleasant and hard on the body. This morning I was in that zone again (though realistically I cannot lift nearly as heavy as I did then). When I left the gym I had to sit in the car for a few minutes before I could drive it because my arms were fried.
Routine
Alternating DB Curls: 25lbs ...20 reps per arm, 35lbs 15reps per arm, 45lbs 10 reps per arm
no rest
Overhead DB Triceps: 20lbs ...25 reps per arm, 30lbs 15 reps per arm, 40lbs 12 reps per arm
no rest
Hammer Curls (DB): 70lbs...10 reps per arm, 50lbs 15 reps per arm, 30 lbs 15 reps per arm, 10 lbs to failure
1 minute rest
Overhead Triceps extensions: 70lbs...25 reps, 100 lbs...12 reps, 130lbs...10 reps, 160 lbs to failure
no rest
21's from Hell: set of 21's with 60lbs (ez-curl bar), set of 21's with 50lbs, set with 40lbs, switch to db's set with 10lb db's and set with 5lb db...then...use the 5lb dbs to pump out as many curls until complete failure
I don't spend forever in the gym. I get in, get focused, and keep it moving.
Guess what's next!!! Insanity tonight.
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