What is your political label?

The attempt to demonize great ideas like college debt forgiveness always reminds me of the scene in "Monty Python's Life of Brian" where Reg, leader of the People's Front of Judea, wonders, "What have the Romans ever done for us?"

He then adds: "All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?"

So what have the flaming liberals ever done for you?

As George McGovern once told a reporter from the National Journal, "Every program that ever helped working people — from rural electrification to Medicare — was enacted by liberals over the opposition of conservatives. When people tell me they don't like liberals, I ask, 'Do you like Social Security? If so, then shut up!'" When will Republicans learn that demonizing liberals as 'socialists' doesn't work? Robin Abcarian , Los Angeles Times, January 28, 2021

It's tax preparation time. Now that I am retired and my income has simplified, I am doing my own income taxes with the help of just a free online site. I still chant my mantra "I'm happy to have income on which to pay taxes. I'm happy to have income on which to pay taxes.", as I have done for many years. And like every  year, I always wonder if I am getting my dollar's worth from the money I give to the government.

• I am happy to see my social security payments show up like clockwork on the fourth Wednesday of every month.
• But I wonder if families with $150,000 annual incomes need "stimulus" checks.
• I am happy to see my Minnesota tax dollars do more to fund our state colleges and universities
• But I wonder if tuition forgiveness is wise and ask why we pay university administrators exorbitant salaries
• I am happy to pay taxes to maintain our streets and highways
• But I wonder if those four-lane roads between small towns in the rural part of the state are necessary
• I am glad our governor is taking proactive steps to contain the spread of COVID-19
• But I wonder if closing/limiting the capacity of restaurants, gyms etc is wise

I could go on and on.

As I read the opinion section of the two newspapers, the letters and editorialists and columnists seem to divide into those who report on what the government does for people and those who report on what the government does to people.  The same people who complain about government regulations are happy to take government subsidies. I don't like to think that people are hypocritical, but that they just don't think things through. And that includes me. 

I really dislike the labels we place on each other and especially on our political leaders - liberal or conservative; socialist or capitalist, libertarian or statist, left-winger or right-winger. I find all these names counter-productive generalizations. Most people I know are more complex in their beliefs and values to put in a single box.

In all our discussions about politics, religion, education, and other value-laden topics, I hope we look at each other as individuals rather than stereotypes.

Well, back to my taxes. Oh, look who is helping!

BFTP: Pause a moment

Pause for a moment...

• Put some air in your tires
• Check your map
• Play a game that your kids play
• Accept thanks for something without over analyzing
• Read the funnies in the newspaper
• Take a walk
• Look at old pictures of your kids
• Park in space farthest from the entrance
• Stop at the DairyQueen
• Plan your dream vacation
• Give somebody else time to figure it out for themselves
• Call your mom
• Kiss your grandchild on the top of his head and find her a cookie
• Wear your oldest sweatshirt
• Have two glasses of wine instead of just one
• Read an old-favorite book
• Take out the earbuds and enjoy the birds
• Catch your breath

These past 12 months have been especially stressful for many, many people in ways this old retired guy can't even imagine. But one thing I have learned perhaps worth passing on, If you get to the big stuff five minutes later, it won't make any difference in the long run. 

Original post 12/1/18

BFTP: 5 "soft" tech skills

Source https://www.youtern.com/thesavvyintern/index.php/2018/07/26/new-soft-skills-evolution-infographic/

Soft skills are the personal attributes, personality traits, inherent social cues, and communication abilities needed for success on the job. Soft skills characterize how a person interacts in his or her relationships with others. the balance careers

My previous school districts regularly hosted day-long workshops on coding. And that's fine. If one looks at coding as a problem-solving strategy and means of developing rational problem-solving abilities, I am all for it. If teaching coding is about creating life-long tech skills at third grade, it is a waste of time.

Computer programming and coding when seriously undertaken at high level can be valuable work place skills. Programmers and data integration specialists can make a good living and the need for their skills will only increase. Still, even computer professionals need "soft skills." I'd argue that these soft skills (especially needed by a group often stereotyped as asocial) are a better predictor of career success than programming or other hard technical skills. 

Here are five of those soft skills that come to mind:

1. Communication for understanding. People in the technical field have a reputation for being poor communicators. The specialized language of technology is not familiar to the lay user and far too often, techs delight in compounding the problem of clear understandings by flaunting acronyms to demonstrate some sort of intellectual superiority. The successful technologist of the future will be able to "translate" tech talk in ways that users, decision-makers, and even politicians might understand.
2. Programming with empathy for user needs. A program can be extraordinarily powerful, but without at least a semi-intuitive interface, most of that power will go unused. Or the training will be long and very painful resulting in the number of people able to use the product in the organization being small and resentful. What seems simple and straightforward to those of who work with technology on a daily base, can be puzzling and frustrating to the end user. Great technologists view their products from the user POV.
3. Project management. Any time a task requires more than one person having responsibility for its completion, project management will be critical to its success. I lived this in real time when trying to get separate large databases to share data reliably. It is no longer enough just to be competent at one's own job as a programmer - you have understand your role in the larger project and even add value by managing the project, helping with building timelines, objectives, responsibilities, etc.
4. Ethical decision-making. As AI become more powerful, ethical considerations for technologists become vital. We are already seeing reports of search engines with cultural and sexual biases in their returns. The technologist who programs thinking about right and wrong, equity, and cultural proficiency will be of more value not just to his organization, but to society as a whole.
5. Attention to creativity. Too often coding classes and programming are teaching and testing the ability to simply follow a recipe. The heart of good technology skills is creative problem-solving. This is not creativity for the sake of being creative, but in designing new ways to solve stubborn problems, increase efficiency, or add value. What problems are you asking students to solve in their programming lessons?

The technologists to whom some of these soft skills come naturally will rise to the top of the tech pool. But many will need to practice improving their ability to interact with people, not just with keyboards.

Original post 8/20/18