Thank you, Paul Rodgers

Watching all this partisan poo-flinging going on about the whackjob who gunned down Judge Rolls, that poor little nine year old girl, and the other four victims of his lethal lunacy, I can't help but think of the Soviet-era proverb: C volkami zhit, kak volkami krit, which loosely translates "If you run with the wolves, howl like them." For those of you who don't get how that applies in the current political context, let's just say that there are a lot of un-housebroken leftist puppies out there howling at the tops of their lungs so the alpha wolves won't think they've strayed from the groupthink of the pack.

Truly, there is nothing new under the sun. But I'd like to think, occasionally, that my political opponents didn't include so damn many Stalinist wannabees.

Thank you, Paul Rodgers

Watching all this partisan poo-flinging going on about the whackjob who gunned down Judge Rolls, that poor little nine year old girl, and the other four victims of his lethal lunacy, I can't help but think of the Soviet-era proverb: C volkami zhit, kak volkami krit, which loosely translates "If you run with the wolves, howl like them." For those of you who don't get how that applies in the current political context, let's just say that there are a lot of un-housebroken leftist puppies out there howling at the tops of their lungs so the alpha wolves won't think they've strayed from the groupthink of the pack.

Truly, there is nothing new under the sun. But I'd like to think, occasionally, that my political opponents didn't include so damn many Stalinist wannabees.

Why all those Chinese kids are kicking our asses.

Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior - WSJ.com:

Despite our squeamishness about cultural stereotypes, there are tons of studies out there showing marked and quantifiable differences between Chinese and Westerners when it comes to parenting. In one study of 50 Western American mothers and 48 Chinese immigrant mothers, almost 70% of the Western mothers said either that "stressing academic success is not good for children" or that "parents need to foster the idea that learning is fun." By contrast, roughly 0% of the Chinese mothers felt the same way....What Chinese parents understand is that nothing is fun until you're good at it. To get good at anything you have to work, and children on their own never want to work, which is why it is crucial to override their preferences. This often requires fortitude on the part of the parents because the child will resist; things are always hardest at the beginning, which is where Western parents tend to give up. But if done properly, the Chinese strategy produces a virtuous circle. Tenacious practice, practice, practice is crucial for excellence; rote repetition is underrated in America.

As much as I disliked Ms. Chua's World On Fire, I can't help wondering if she has any unmarried sisters. Seriously, though...she's on to something here, and it's not just a Chinese thing. RTWT

Why all those Chinese kids are kicking our asses.

Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior - WSJ.com:

Despite our squeamishness about cultural stereotypes, there are tons of studies out there showing marked and quantifiable differences between Chinese and Westerners when it comes to parenting. In one study of 50 Western American mothers and 48 Chinese immigrant mothers, almost 70% of the Western mothers said either that "stressing academic success is not good for children" or that "parents need to foster the idea that learning is fun." By contrast, roughly 0% of the Chinese mothers felt the same way....What Chinese parents understand is that nothing is fun until you're good at it. To get good at anything you have to work, and children on their own never want to work, which is why it is crucial to override their preferences. This often requires fortitude on the part of the parents because the child will resist; things are always hardest at the beginning, which is where Western parents tend to give up. But if done properly, the Chinese strategy produces a virtuous circle. Tenacious practice, practice, practice is crucial for excellence; rote repetition is underrated in America.

As much as I disliked Ms. Chua's World On Fire, I can't help wondering if she has any unmarried sisters. Seriously, though...she's on to something here, and it's not just a Chinese thing. RTWT