Ride On, Ride On in Majesty.

Jesus’ grand entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday was glorious.  Yet the entrance was for the purpose of heading to the cross on Friday morning and the tomb on Friday afternoon.

The hymn Ride On, Ride On in Majesty lifts up that celebratory joy while pointing with dread to what will happen by end of the week.

The last line points to even greater celebration to come: “Then take your power and reign” which foretells Jesus reigning on His throne forever, triumphant as the ultimate Prophet, Priest, and King.

King’s College, Cambridge

One version of the lyrics, for your celebration:

(more…)

Cost of the devastation caused by closing schools.

Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

To the extent there was ever justification for closing schools, emerging research demonstrates it has been an extremely long time since any such justification evaporated. Research from Wharton shows the severe, lifelong cost of losing out on two or three semesters of education.

This is the fifth in a series of posts reminding us we have completed one year of “fifteen days to smooth the curve.” In California, we have started our second year of curve smoothing.

10/12/20 – Penn Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania, Budget Model website Covid: Trade-offs in School Reopening – Detailed economic analysis is thoroughly devastating to any argument there is any value in keeping schools closed and in fact there are substantive questions whether there was any value to closing any schools.

Summary

There will be permanent damage to the education level of most students with a serious adverse impact on lifetime earnings with a disproportionate impact on kids who are poor kids, disadvantaged kids, and persons of color.

Read the full article. Please.

Recap of the highlights

(more…)

Devastation visible after an entire year of “15 days to smooth the curve”, college edition. Part 3.

Empty college campus. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Articles describing the destruction in the education world have been noticable to me over the last several weeks. Most of the articles have discussed the devastation in primary and secondary education.

Here are a few articles describing disruption in higher education:

  • Alternatives to traditional non-campus higher education are growing.
  • What might a post-covid higher education world look like? One scenario.
  • Lots of class-action suits against colleges for refunds are getting dismissed.
(more…)

Devastation visible after an entire year of “15 days to smooth the curve.” Part 2.

One student who is focused on distance learning. She will do fine; notice she has two computers and her own space to study. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Destruction in the education world has been noticable to me over the last several weeks. Most of the articles have discussed the devastation in primary and secondary education. There will also be major disruption in higher education.

Today’s articles:

  • 3 million missing kids.
  • Kids from poorer neighborhoods will suffer most from lost education.
  • Last December UNICEF warned against keeping schools closed.
(more…)

Devastation visible after an entire year of “15 days to smooth the curve.” Part 1.

Close up view of a closed school’s message board, encouraging students to keep learning and stay healthy amidst the coronavirus quarantine

Devastation on kids caused by the lockdown is becoming more visible with every day that passes. A few articles pointing this out:

  • Mental health of schoolchildren has suffered.
  • Even CDC finds kids are suffering.
  • It is past time to fix the mistake.
(more…)

Lockdown for the last year was a mistake.

The year-long lockdown has been okay if you are a member of the “Zoom class.”

As we finish our first year of shutting down education for our kids and shutting down the economy for everyone, evidence is emerging of what a terrible mistake we made.

A series of posts will commemorate this regrettable anniversary.

Today’s articles:

  • Worst public health mistake in a century
  • Lockdowns okay for those of us fortunate enough to be a part of the “Zoom class”
(more…)

Back (reverse) of Venezuelan currency, 2007 – 2017

Reverse of 100,000 Bolivares paper currency. In 8/12 this would have been worth $10,000. In 9/15, only $125. By 12/17, it was worth $0.90. In 12/18, seven of these would have been worth a US penny.

Before we use Venezuelan Bolivares currency to show the devastation of hyperinflation, let’s finish looking at the currency.

Previous post showed the front (obverse) of 2 through 100,000 Bolivares paper money.

Now let’s look at the back (reverse).

The reverse side shows various wildlife.

2 – dated 12/27/12 – Toninas

5 – dated 5/24/07, Cachicama gigante, giant cachicamo

(more…)