(President Barack Obama delivers remarks on "Race To the Top"
at the Department of Education with Secretary
of Education Arne Duncan, left, in Washington, D.C.
Friday, July 24, 2009. Official White House
Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
at the Department of Education with Secretary
of Education Arne Duncan, left, in Washington, D.C.
Friday, July 24, 2009. Official White House
Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
SEE CSPAN VIDEO
TGIF.
After a week of political brouhahas, both locally and nationally, I needed an antidote to the venomous dialogue from the Right and Left. I was determined to avoid the anger-inducing cable news chattering bobble-heads, and the ranting poli-blogs. So last night I settled into the well-worn LazyBoy with a few Yuengling Lagers, a Ciro's sub and pizza slices; fired up DirecTV and randonly channel surfed for something that might calm my weary mind. I stumbled onto CSPAN, watching Sen. Chris Dodd pitch a good health care reform "half-time" speech encouraging the Senate to press on regardless, for progress on this tough issue. And then to my delight, good 'ol CSPAN had a short video of Prez Obama announcing the Race to the Top program to encourage excellence in Education. Damn, I needed that!
Best of all, he hit my statistical thinking buttons, with repeated emphasis on data, data-driven results, reliable measurement systems, and evidence-based programs. I was literally cheering his focus on re-invigorating science and engineering education to compete with China and India. Oh Yeah ... you're talking to me, Mr. President! Sign me up for more of that!
I couldn't help but think, this is exactly why I voted for this man. He gets IT! He understands statistical thinking. After 8 years of Dummy-in-Chief, GWB, a guy that couldn't calculate a standard deviation, even if his life depended on it, it is a deeply refreshing change, to have a leader with the ability to understand and use statistics.
My Prez still gives scientists and engineers, HOPE! Press on for progress!
After a week of political brouhahas, both locally and nationally, I needed an antidote to the venomous dialogue from the Right and Left. I was determined to avoid the anger-inducing cable news chattering bobble-heads, and the ranting poli-blogs. So last night I settled into the well-worn LazyBoy with a few Yuengling Lagers, a Ciro's sub and pizza slices; fired up DirecTV and randonly channel surfed for something that might calm my weary mind. I stumbled onto CSPAN, watching Sen. Chris Dodd pitch a good health care reform "half-time" speech encouraging the Senate to press on regardless, for progress on this tough issue. And then to my delight, good 'ol CSPAN had a short video of Prez Obama announcing the Race to the Top program to encourage excellence in Education. Damn, I needed that!
Best of all, he hit my statistical thinking buttons, with repeated emphasis on data, data-driven results, reliable measurement systems, and evidence-based programs. I was literally cheering his focus on re-invigorating science and engineering education to compete with China and India. Oh Yeah ... you're talking to me, Mr. President! Sign me up for more of that!
I couldn't help but think, this is exactly why I voted for this man. He gets IT! He understands statistical thinking. After 8 years of Dummy-in-Chief, GWB, a guy that couldn't calculate a standard deviation, even if his life depended on it, it is a deeply refreshing change, to have a leader with the ability to understand and use statistics.
My Prez still gives scientists and engineers, HOPE! Press on for progress!
