Poll | 11/16/2008 11:00 pm

Should Malia and Sasha Obama go to public school or private school?

Read more about: Barack Obama, Education, Obamas, Presidency

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Hi Jane … thanks so much for the sweet greeting - and I sure hope you are feeling a whole lot better (am having a nasty cough myself… NYC is verrrry cold this week) —- I too missed some of the connections/discussions at wow, but overall … I’m not too excited about the site (pun intended…) —- and I’m not spending too much time on the computer anyway these days, reading was my priority this fall … (and going broke, and contemplating moving back to Euro-lands … and … and - you get the picture …) Yeah, we seem to have a nice connection here; you are a professor, right?! I was a Diplom-Paedagoge in Berlin in the late 70’s, (ouch, that’s soo long ago…), then studied film and worked in production there and here … but I took a break from the film biz the last few years, and don’t really feel like moving back into it - except for writing (attempting a children’s screenplay right now, based on an old German book) - and I am actually looking towards education again (currently as a ‘nanny’ for an Asperger child…) - life’s a circle, right?! So long, be well, cheers from NYC, U. (P.S. if I get over to Germany any time soon, maybe I’ll drop you my e-mail address via this site?!)

By Ulla on 11/22/2008 12:25 pm

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Hey Ulla, that was a fast reply. Yeah, I share your feelings about the site. I would love to talk to so many posters on a private level but most of the topics on the site I can take or leave. So I would very much appreciate your e-mail address not just when you come back to Germany! And if you come back you sure have to let me know.

By Jane Cougar Melonhat on 11/22/2008 12:42 pm

… and that was fast answering too, dear Jane! Today I had allocated on-line time, and: I got the ‘answer-alert’ … Anyway, here’s my e-mail on this site: costa.brava@mac.com - a little warning: I am not always good at fast answers (actually, I am afraid there are some rather miffed people over there in the old country … waiting…) —- oh, well. And now I am going off to brave the cold and try to get tickets for: Pina Bausch at BAM … !

By Ulla on 11/22/2008 1:50 pm

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Hi Joan, sorry it took me so long to answer. This flu knocked the stuffings out of me for a couple of days. I´m still a bit woozy but I´m doing a lot better. I just noticed Ulla has dropped in while I was sick. I already knew her ( hey, I know my fellow Germans) but I sure didn´t know where she was from. Ha! And your right. This place is fascinating because you never know who you´re going to connect with and for which reasons. How was your presentation? I didn´t have the time to read through your comments yet. Would you mind telling me which state you live in? I know this swamped feeling myself. I had it ever since winterterm started and it´s going to be worse next week because so much didn´t get done because of my illness. Oh well, shouldn´t worry about that now. I like the picture of the sponge. I think it´s very appropriate. You talked about the ocean as a sidelight. I can relate. I think one of the greatest moments I had was being so close to a sperm whale that I could almost touch his fluke. How about other sidelights? I like being outside, hiking in places with no people around, just nature and me. What´s your take on music, arts, architecture? Let me know. PS: The Laborschule is associated with the university of Bielefeld. I think there are around 600 - 700 kids, but I´m not sure about that.

By Jane Cougar Melonhat on 11/22/2008 11:50 am

Jane — It is so obvious that you and I have a lot in common that goes beyond wow… and you are sick and I am on overload and going to Minneapolis next week for a week. What I don’t do but will as this is an older thread is suggest that maybe we can also write beyond wow - because of going always to Antarctica, my e-mail is wildice24@aol.com - and perhaps we can write outside things at will beyond the site after my return. You can say yes or no then privately. You are the only other person I know who has seen sperm whales up close. We had to go to a location out of the way between the Lofoten Islands off Norway and Bear Island (look at map - it has the best jellyfish!) closer to Svalbard —- but they congregate there for mating and we hung around and saw lots - unforgettable. Travel? All over the undiscovered locations - and interests high in nature.

By joan larsen on 11/22/2008 1:44 pm

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Joanie, I just saw and am in shock and at a loss for words!!!! And, that rarely happens, don’t ya know? My mouth is dragging in floor and picking up so much excess dog hair that I am temporarily out of commission. You, rock lady and in the “kindergarten class”, too!

By Agyness O on 11/17/2008 4:31 pm

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My Agy … at a loss for words? Couldn’t happen, couldn’t happen. You have written more in three days than I have in a year — and what a organizational leader and a gal who takes a concept and goes with it at full speed. You are a natural cheerleader - and bet you were one - one of those gorgeous girls in high school that we silently envied — and also took all the boys. If I am a little more subdued - I guess that is the word - it is that the challenges of what I do in real life (this isn’t real life, is it?) are pushing me this week … but I will be re-charged and ready to go - well - soon!!!!!

By joan larsen on 11/18/2008 1:50 am

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Joanie, I have been looking for you everywhere even under every rock and up in every tree! Am I glad you finally showed up or what? And, look what we started and how it has GROOOOOOWN!!! And, with all the most wonderful, smartest, most beautiful commenters on WOW. These woman are also fully commented and are currently working their butts off for this wonderful cause. And, Joanie, I understand that real life is just so greedy and tries to take soooo much of our time. But, hey lady, you are a real force, so you stay out there and keep all in line, ya hear? And, yes, I was a cheerleader in my poor little high school in the south; however, I was very very picky about the boys, you know. So many were rednecks and, I’m sure, not like the typical boys you met at that wonderful “lab school” that you attended in Chicago. But, I did have the good funtune of growing up with the wares of the Jewel Tea Truck. You hang in and I will try to hold the fort while you are dealing with that intrusive “real world” and we will be keeping you seat saved and warm. But, get with us virtually as soon as you can….we will be anxiously waiting!!!!!! Your new best friend. AGY

By Agyness O on 11/18/2008 1:09 pm

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Bestest friend of all, I told you I know EVERYTHING. It must have been that school I went to - do you think? All gorgeous women were once cheerleaders — and you, dear friend, have never stopped leading the cheers and SEEING THAT WE WIN BIG ON OFTER. The RAH RAHS are now heard coming in on my screen — and how did you manage that. But actually and really, between the two of us, I have never - in life - seen anyone go with something, run with it, dedicate their very life to it — and stir the large pot of WOWers day and night. Forget the other OFTERS, I just want to spend time with YOU, you natural wonder of the world. YOU are full of energy, ideas, and I know we would get way off track together — way off —- but I don’t mind being center of attention with laughing. Do you? But as you know football - as you had the whole flock of players trying for you - you know the meaning of a “time out”. And something serious has happened that is for the moment stretching me in too many directions - and silence just means that - if you remember - I am also juggling financial things that I am in charge of - big taxpayer bucks - in political office … and it is the season where big changes are having to be made in allocation of funds. That’s me. I am a juggler, but have to have a sense of responsibility first or I lose the next election. It comes down to that. On an off thread, keep me current for a few days and do not picture me lounging — picture me killing myself with political things that have nothing to do with our darling men of OFTER. Soon, soon. . and sorry, but am I glad we connected as I can count on you in these emergency times. At the office now, but you HAD to know. Thank you, dearest friend, for keeping up my end - which sounds a little way out — but you get the idea. Joanie.

By joan larsen on 11/18/2008 2:22 pm

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Joan, While watching 60 minutes last night I had the same reaction as you did……….I hope she learns to give him a little slack. I will say, he handles it with dignity.

By Dona Howlett on 11/17/2008 5:13 pm

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Hi Dona — This is far from the first time I have watched Michelle closely as I said on another thread, underlying everything there is feeling she has that she was told to quit her wonderful and high position for this. She WAS a woman in her own right — and as you saw last night and at other times, very very strong. Friends made the same comment as I about last night — like WHOA! to pick apart his smallest statements that were just conversation, calling him on them, makes us think that behind closed doors this woman is a force to be reckoned with. And if he did not tell her in the car back home to from now on keep her mouth shut and not contradict him in public, I would be surprised. Even you and I know that for big interviews like that, it is wise to stay on your best behavior and let things go - so he looks like the leader of the couple - even if it is questionable that he is. So we were not the only ones to see this — and it should be interesting at the White House, don’t you think?

By joan larsen on 11/17/2008 5:32 pm

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Joan, I’ve shared before on this site ‘Things my Father taught me’……………one that has been very beneficial to me is. “Don’t ever deliberately embarass a person”. He followed by saying. If you accidently embarass someone they can forgive you. But if you deliberately embarass them they not only don’t forgive but they don’t ever forget. I can remember things in the past where someone said something that embarrassed me, it still makes me feel bad. I hope she stops this immedietly…………if it’s something of significance they can have a private discussion. Mostly it seems to be insignifcant things. I’ll be listening now to see if it occurs with others……….. I guess to some we are nit picking……………but I think it is an important thing. I want at all times to be very proud of both my President and First Lady.

By Dona Howlett on 11/17/2008 6:01 pm

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Dona, we are so alike. And we seem to be perceptive, catching the small things perhaps — but they usually tell something about a relationship. At a time when the best impression is very important, people are judging — how else can they except through what they see and hear from you? Last night, they would have been uncomfortable house guests at my dinner party - petty perhaps, but true.

By joan larsen on 11/17/2008 6:39 pm