The Observation Deck

Monday morning, I noticed the message on the Lakewood High School sign.

Jim O'Bryan took this photo of it.






Any comments?



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_________________
Nothin' shakin' on Shakedown Street.
Used to be the heart of town.
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart.
You just gotta poke around.

Robert Hunter/Sometimes attributed to Ezra Pound.

That's a stupid saying that I bet comes from some pre-programmed thing that comes with the sign- that is, I don't believe they specify everything that scrolls across the sign. There must be some sort of sign "muzak" that fills in the time between regular announcements.

I'm more worried about what goes on INSIDE that building than whats on an outdoor sign that I suspect the kids pay no attention to.

Grace

Doesn't this tell us volumes about what is going on inside? For it is the little Observations that lead to a clearer
big picture. So this is one of the pre-programed message that comes with the sign?! So then where is the
double checking to make sure something else has not been included, even more off color? So there is no one in
the building that can find more relevant or proper quotes for a school sign? That there is no creativity inside
that could figure out how to being more art in our lives than pre-programed for they are pre-programed?

Or, is this simply a continuing of blurring the line between facts and myth?

Or is this crying out that amateurs should have built the Titanic and that in theory it would be better for those
on board?

I am not seeing this and having any real positive ZEN moment.

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_________________
Jim O'Bryan
Lakewood Resident

"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg

"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama

they want to build gondolas and whitehalls and canoos.
maybe a pram with a gunter.
it is a good vocation.

_________________
This Henry Charles Carey guy is good at Economics.

"Good luck with what you're doin'".--Ramses Luther Smuckles.

Given the insane attention this school year to the dress code and keeping up appearances you would think they would give more thought or attention to a sign blasting a message for everyone to see … especially a message promoting the anti-intellectualism so pervasive in our culture. Oh those elite professionals built a boat that sank but that Noah dude…he saved all the species on the face of the earth with his awesome ark.

Actually I would guess who ever came up with this stupid message didn’t give it this much thought but that is the point. This sign is in front of a school where I know --- given I have two children there --- there is some quality thinking going on. They are for the most part getting a great education at the high school. This message does not reflect that.

Google is always such a good friend.

Trying to figure out where this comment came from yields, well, not much at all. Basically:

* It may, or may not, have been said by humorist Dave Berry.

* It may, or may not, have first appeared in the Globe & Mail in 1979.

* It is probably about risk taking. Or not.

* You can purchase both t-shirts and bumper stickers with the saying on it.

I may dig around a bit more but this cannot be officially pinned to anyone that I can find.

Noah built his arc according to the directions and specifications of God. He did exactly as God instructed him to do and was successful. Therefore, one could interpret the quote above as saying if you listen to God and do what He tells you to do, you will be successful. I think if I was an atheist, I'd be offended.

The engineers who designed the Titanic had years of schooling and were probably some of the best and brightest in their field. Noah was an ordinary man without much, if any, education. Alternatively, one could interpret the quote to mean you don’t need schooling to be a success.

_________________
I was going to sue her for defamation of character but then I realized I had no character – Charles Barkley

Too many people in this country spend their days looking for ways to be offended.

Maybe the purpose of the sign was to critizise the expertise of experts. Maybe someone wanted people to think about some of the things they think about; there are plenty of people who never think about the things they think about.

The experts gave us the polio vacine; they also gave us Fannie Mae and the no doc liars loan.

Of course you might be offended that I'm not offended or I might be offended that you are offended about something that does not offend me. Good grief.

My only complaint with the sign is that every time I drive by, its got the wrong time on it.

I like the quote, thought provoking.

_________________

I agree with Bill that we could be using our time more wisely than finding things to be offended about. And, I agree with Kate and really think there could have been a better choice to provoke thought.

I am not an atheist (I am not offended by the quote) but I do believe in the separation of church & state.
I don't think the quote is appropriate for in front of a public high school.

The ark is as much a cultural symbol as a religous symbol and as such and as either it is an appropriate reference in an appropriate place.

In the interest of harmony I propose this quote to replace the reference to the ark:

I was made by amateurs. You were made by professionals.

Noah is a common figure in historical folklore. like Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, and Santa Claus.
He is also a common figure in the main middle eastern religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

The engineers who designed and built the titanic did not design it to be run into an iceberg.

This could mean that kids should try to get good grades, but should not bother with college. they should stay home and practice carpentry and metal working.

It is hard to carry a wooden row boat to the lake, then lift it over the rope fence and all those damn boulders at the park. So they will have to make their boats out of aluminum.

_________________
This Henry Charles Carey guy is good at Economics.

"Good luck with what you're doin'".--Ramses Luther Smuckles.

►►►Maybe the kids will get the wrong message and head to the local head-shop, (Daystar Boutique) to try the latest K-2

I think it's still legal in Ohio. ◄◄◄

http://www.celebstoner.com/201002183796 ... inues.html

Like it or not.

The message is a successful one.
It has inspired a little thought and conversation.
That's more than most, usually they are forgotten by the time your through the Bunts intersection.

Bill

So if its not a "programmed" message, then who is in charge of finding and posting the quotes or messages?

Perhaps they could be asked to join the discussion. For example, where do they look for quotes to use? How do they decide which are appropriate? What did this particular message mean to them and what did they expect the students to take away from that message?