The Novelty of the Blog

For what seems to have been a brief moment in time, I considered myself an intellectual. Two outstanding private institutions of higher learning equipped me with the skills to be a critical thinker, always analyzing conversations and observations. I have realized that I miss this self-formed identity. Since moving back to rural Kentucky and taking on the challenges of a high school teacher of humanities to a population of students who could care less that gothic means more than wearing black clothes and makeup, my thinking has become complacent and my vocabulary has sunk to an abject state.

It is at this self-realization that I begin this blog. To insure that I actually pay attention to the happenings of importance, I will attempt to blog at least weekly (hopefully more frequently, but lower expectations mean the possibility of being pleasantly surprised) about some meaningful story that I either come across via my own experience or observation.

This blog is also the result of encouragement from my lone intellectual uncle--quite possibly the only family member who is the proud owner of a library card that has seen the light of day. We often have these conversations about random stories on the news and the personalities who comment on said stories. During these conversations, I enjoy saying shocking things to my ultra-conservative aunt who probably says an extra prayer for my soul each night. After one of these especially rousing conversations (I think I had just suggested government enforced population control to cut down on slackers in society--including references to my senior research paper in high school on eugenics), my uncle suggested I start blogging. According to him, there isn't an idea or opinion so crazy that you can't find at least a hundred people to agree with you. And I think he suggested it for his own amusement as well. So we'll give it a shot.

My personal favorite pundit is Ann Coulter. Now, before people start throwing rampant comments my way, let me explain my respect and admiration for Ms. Coulter. I do not always agree with the ideas that she puts forth. Nevertheless, the manner in which she presents this information is mesmerizing to me. It is all about the shock value. Ann can say things in such a way that I guarantee, you will remember it. And then you will be driving in your car one day, thinking of the insane notion that she has spouted off and think, "Hey, there's a little sense in that if you stop to think about it." And most importantly, Ann does not care who she ticks off. Get over it.

So it is in the spirit of reclaiming critical thinking, amusing the minute sliver of familial intelligence that I have (and likely myself) and just saying what I think, that I begin this blog.

And remember what Ann says, "When things get tough, liberals go to therapy. Conservatives go to church."