For something different, a little artwork from the boy and the lass.
After the jump.
Author: Gerry
Categories
Debian and Custom Certificates
I noticed yesterday that I was not receiving mail from one of my mail accounts. I’m a fetchmail user, so I immediately went to the log file. I won’t reproduce the exact message, but essentially fetchmail couldn’t validate the ssl certificate from the server because it didn’t think I had the appropriate root certificate.
And just like that, I was off on another expedition into the wonderful land of computer administrivia.
Yesterday, the boy returned to the dojo for the first time since his semi-debacle on Monday. It went almost exactly like I expected, except for the surprise twist I supplied at the end.
When he got home from school, he procrastinated about getting ready for his class. Then he dragged his feet going out the door, defiantly declaring he wasn’t going to practice. In the car ride over he was sullen. And his mood only darkened the closer we got. Feeling like your pride had been nicked can do strange things to a kid.
When we finally got into the class room, students were on the floor warming up. But the boy sat down with his head almost between his knees. It was obvious that he thought someone would remember what happened to him on Monday. He was trying to avoid having to relive the embarrassment he’d suffered through. When you’re a kid, everything is about you. Therefore, everyone will remember every slight against you just as vividly as you do.
How can it be otherwise?
That was why I kind of knew that last night was the most important class he had attended for awhile. Not because it had anything to do with karate per say, but because it had everything to do with him learning that he can suffer setbacks and still survive to fight another day. So I was prepared for the answer he gave me when I asked him what was wrong. He didn’t want to have to do anymore push-ups; he didn’t want anyone to remind him about Monday.
I told him the only one who was remembering Monday at that moment was him. But that didn’t get much traction with him. After a few more attempts at reasoning with him bore no fruit, I came up with an novel idea. Simply put, we can take away, but we can also give back, if some pre-conditions are met. Why not? If some behaviors are worth punishing, surely others are worth undoing a punishment as a way of demonstrating their value.
So I told him that if he practiced as hard as the last time I’d watched him, maybe that would be worth something. For the first time, he paused and looked at me. Then he said “Like maybe I can play my DS again this weekend?”
I could only smile at that point, since that’s exactly what I had been thinking. I consider that proof-positive that kids understand the concept of bribery quite well. I said I’d have to talk it over with the Wife, but we’d see what could be done.
And with that, he went out to warm up a bit noticeably cheered. More importantly, he held up his end of the bargain during class, practicing hard. When the class was over I told him he’d done a good job. He seemed to be in better spirits all around.
When we got home, I explained to the Wife my little suggestion. She didn’t have a problem with it except for one thing: he still owed her 75 push-ups. So the final deal was set- he had to finish the push-ups he owed his Mother, and then he’d get his DS privileges reinstated for the weekend. His debt would be considered paid in full.
He didn’t like the change-up since he felt that he’d paid his debt by practicing hard. We held our ground though and in the end he held up his end of the bargain. Naturally, he was quite pleased with the unexpected turn of events. That was the first time he’d earned his way out of a punishment. Of course, it was the first time we’d let him earn his way out of a punishment. I’m hoping this time the lessons will be more permanent.
Only time will tell what lessons he actually learned.
So our Shelf Elf, Sparky, has been doing his duties: listening to the kids’ requests for toys, reporting back to Santa, leaving a little treat in the Advent House each morning for the kids. Most importantly, he keeps flitting to a fro throughout the house, occasionally reappearing where the kids request he go to next. In summary, the typical Shelf Elf stuff.
But the last two days, the lass has a complaint. She’s getting tired of the Kisses that he’s been leaving for her each morning. This morning, the lass even requested that Sparky give her a different type of candy for tomorrow.
The Wife told her “You should be happy he’s leaving you anything.” I actually seem to recall one of her stories dealing with this very topic. The main character is a particularly obnoxious “Pinkalicious” and she doesn’t like the treat that the Tooth Fairy leaves for her. Frankly, the end of that story would have been better if Pinkalicious had met with some tragic accident at the Tooth Fairy’s hands. But then we wouldn’t have been reading it to the lass I suppose.
Anyway, I’m thinking Sparky may be going into teaching mode pretty soon…
Categories
Carriers Behaving Badly
I don’t own a smartphone yet. That’s doesn’t mean they don’t intrigue me greatly. But the cold hard fact is the carriers make you pay a lot of money to own a smartphone. Personally, I’d like to own a smartphone without a data plan. I have WiFi here at the house and out an about there are plenty of hotspots to latch onto.
But carriers won’t let me do that. They require a data plan with your smartphone purchase. That’s only 1 of a number of examples of carriers behaving badly. The simple fact is they are bithaulers. That is, their service is really just a trumped up ISP at this point. But they don’t want people to know that, or think about that. They just want money once for moving voice bits over their pipeline, and a second time for moving data over their pipeline.
Wired has yet another example of carriers behaving badly. While I wouldn’t be using Google wallet now if I was a smartphone user, I think people should be allowed to do so if they choose. The convenience of the system is certainly alluring. But rather than compete in the “digital wallet” market, the carriers are using there gate-keeper position regarding phones in an anti-competitive manner.
It’s crap like this that give people little sympathy for the carriers.
The day started with the boy losing DS privileges and ended with him owing the Wife 75 push-ups. The lass fared little better since she has an early bed time coming. Both kids getting whacked, hard, like that can only mean one thing: it’s Monday.
Categories
Surgery Update
Got permission from PT to ditch the brace today. And the compression sleeve. Although, she did recommend wearing it out when I’m going to a crowded setting, just as a precaution so people don’t start hanging on my arm. Because that happens all the time- people randomly start swinging from my arms like their a vine.
Still got a wad of scar tissue under the incision in the crook of my elbow. I’ll be curious what the Doctor has to say about it at my follow-up next week.
I figure now I’ll be hitting the steep part of the recovery curve. Using it semi-normally plus the exercises I’ve got will, hopefully, result in some significant reversion back to what was the norm for me.
Just in time for the holidays as well. I know Santa will need some help lifting that sack of his…
Categories
Angry Birds
The boy has been slowly assimilating football of late. He now knows a number of teams on sight. But he learned a new one today. He saw a highlight from the Cowboys-Cardinals game today and referred to the Cardinals as “the Angry Bird team.”
Categories
Going to School
The kids were dragging a bit this morning. When I told them it was time to get going so I could take them to school, I got exactly zero reaction. Rather than ask again, I stated: “Well, I’ve got to run a couple of errands and I’m heading out to the car now.” I grabbed my keys and headed toward the front door.
That had the desired effect, mostly. There’s nothing for free though. In this case, I now had two surly kids on my hands. The boy groused “I don’t want to go to school. I’m not going.” Even though he continued to get ready. I paid him no attention.
The lass had strapped on her backpack and was “ready” to go. I check the temp outside: 25 degrees. I looked down at her and said “Put on a coat kiddo, it’s cold outside.”
She wasn’t having it, but tried to be agreeable and reason with me: “But Dad- look! I’ve got two layers on, see? I don’t need a jacket.” She was pointing to the long sleeve shirt and her red sweater that she had on over it.
Now it was my turn to not have any of it. When I insisted on her putting on a coat, her face fell into a frown and she threw off her backpack. “I don’t want to wear a stupid coat…”
She kept on going, but I tuned her out. The boy, remarkably, remained silent. I walked out the door to the car with him and started it up. As I walked out the door, I heard the lass start crying about something or other. Presumably, her coat was annoying her. Again, I offered no reaction. Didn’t want to know what the trumped up issue was.
I was looking for a scraper for the frost on the windshield when the lass came storming outside. She was dragging her backpack behind her and her coat was wide open. She was defying the cold. Her lips were pursed and her brow furrowed in her fury. “SEE! It’s not even COLD out!” The words poured out of her along with the steam. She stomped towards the car.
She had the look of causing small objects to combust if they got to close. I’m pretty sure she was daring me to say something. Instead, I continued to ignore her tantrum. Unable to find a scraper, I walked over to the driver’s door and hopped in. The slamming door behind me and the loud, deliberate HARRUMPH! from immediately behind me was confirmation enough that the lass had also climbed in. The boy continued to quietly keep to himself. He seemed content to let the lass vent for the both of them.
As I started out the driveway, the lass asked me a question. Their was no fury, only idle curiosity. Just as quickly as it had come, it was gone.
Just another morning on the way to school.
Categories
My Main Goal As a Parent
UPDATE: Having re-read the article, it seems using the young woman in the article as a reference point for jumping off into a talk about parenting goals was inappropriate. She has, in fact, been doing something different, it just isn’t what she wants. I haven’t modified the post from it’s original content other than to add this mea culpa. I’ll try to be more careful in the future.
Glenn Reynolds comments about this:
You can write in your parents’ basement. And if you want to make it as a writer, you’d better. And if you want to make it as a literary agent, try making some sales for your unrepresented writer-friends. You can do that from your parents’ basement too.
I think this touches on a fundamental aspect of parenting: teaching the importance of a good attitude and of resourcefulness. With the caveat that the article caught her on a bad day, the attitude here is a big problem. To paraphrase her plight: “I did everything right (me: whatever that is) and it didn’t work.” When I hear that line, I’m hearing a trumped up rendition of “It’s not fair!” That’s life. It isn’t fair. Accept it and find a way around it, as Glenn so bluntly points out.
The other problem here is a lack of resourcefulness. Again, Glenn points out ways to accomplish her goal, it’s just not the traditional way. People who succeed (at any level- not just Steve Jobs or Larry Ellison levels) make the most of the tools they have. They find novel ways of getting things done.
These two things go hand-in-hand: having a good attitude means a person will find a way around an obstacle, if it’s important enough to them. Success means they’ll continue to face trials in the future. Failure doesn’t stop them, it just teaches how not to do something. Rinse, repeat, succeed.
I and the Wife preach this kind of stuff to the boy and the lass constantly. We try to challenge them constantly (as is appropriate to their age) to push them out of comfort zones because you have to go there eventually. For example, they tie their shoes without our help because we made them. Trivial you say? I know 2nd graders around here who don’t tie their own shoes. The boy and the lass both dress themselves for hockey, needing help only with lacing up skates. I’ve seen 5th graders who can’t dress themselves up for hockey. And we’re starting to get the boy to learn how to lace up his own skates.
Yesterday, the boy had his best karate class ever. Not because he performed his technique’s well (he did OK at best there- but he’s 7 and expecting perfection from a 7 year old is foolish), but because he gave the best effort I’ve ever seen him give in a class. I let him know and even rewarded him with some desert.
Last night, the lass went and retrieved milk out of the fridge and poured herself and her brother glasses to go with dinner. Unasked. She’s 5. I rewarded her with desert as well. (Prior to that she wasn’t going to get any- her brother had earned it, she hadn’t. Believe it or not, desert isn’t a normal around here. And the kids certainly aren’t entitled to one. That makes it a useful reward for moments like last night.)
No, they aren’t solving the world’s problems and no one in their right mind expects 5 and 7 year olds to do that. But they are learning to solve their own problems. I think that gives them a leg up on the 25 year old in the article.
I’ve stated before and I’ll reiterate- I think, hardware-wise, ASUS is Apple’s real competitor. The first Transformer (a tablet with a docking station that combined to form a nice netbook/laptop) was a big success. They’ve got the PadPhone coming, and now they’ve released an updated Transformer, called Prime, with a quad-core processor and it’s getting rave reviews, (the one blemish seems to be hinky WiFi performance on the eval units, ASUS says it’s a non issue.)
All told, the cost is $650 ($499 for the tablet, $150 for the docking station), so it’s still well out of my own league in terms of cost. But it’s right there when compared to an iPad2 and the Prime will also likely get an update to the latest Android software, making it even better.
Interestingly, the iPad2 still gets the nod from reviewers because of it’s App Store advantage. That’s a bit disappointing to me, as I’d really like to see a worthy competitor come up for the iPad2. But it’s also legitimate: if a customer is going to fork over $500+ for a tablet device, it ought to be easily capable of more than browsing and email. Obviously, the iPad2 is there. Not so much for Android based tablets.
Categories
Surgery Update
The physical therapist has now added some isometric exercises for my triceps to my home PT routine. This is in addition to the range of motion stretching and shoulder exercises. The amount of atrophy is, frankly, astounding to me. I haven’t been able to use my arm for roughly 6 weeks now. When compared against the previous 25 years worth of physical activity (and strenuous physical activity at that) it barely compares. Yet all that time hasn’t mattered compared to not using the muscle for 6 weeks. Remarkable. I’ll be curious as to what kind of muscle memory my body has. I’d like to think it’s good, but the proof will be in the pudding.
For the non-squeamish among you, here’s a video of the surgery that was done on my arm. The tendon I tore is remarkably sturdy looking.
Talk about unintended consequences.
Having let the boy and the lass watch A Christmas Story, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised at their choice of a takeaway scene. Thinking about it, any one of a number of them would have been understandable: the Little Orphan Annie decoder scene, the flagpole scene with Flick, the unboxing of the “major award” scene, even when Ralphie gets to shoot his Red Ryder BB Gun and breaks his glasses. But the one they both have been talking about ever since is the one that I just can’t explain to their full satisfaction: the tire changing scene. Specifically, “FUUUDGE!”
Initially, they didn’t quite grok that “FUDGE” was not what Ralphie actually said. They were confused because “Dad, is ‘FUDGE’ a bad word?” Obviously, no, it isn’t a bad word. After imparting a better understanding of the scene, they immediately set to trying to figure out what exactly “the word” was.
I have to confess to a strange combination of amusement and shame at this. They started asking questions like “Was it the ‘S’ word?” and “It wasn’t the ‘D’ word, was it?” as they mulled through the options. The amusement was in how they were phrasing the questions- clearly, they understood that even the pretext of trying to understand a movie scene was not excuse enough to start letting fly with profanity. But I have to say, I was a little embarrassed at the sheer number of words they were working through.
I’ll confess to, on occasion, under moments of extreme duress imparted by child initiated circumstances, having let fly with an occasional bad word here and there. But after listening to their questions, it became clear to me that the Wife really bears the brunt of the blame here. She really needs to be more careful in their presence…
Getting back to the kids, I was more dismayed to realize that the boy’s sleuthing had involved discussing the scene with his friends at school. With their “help,” he came home yesterday and declared that he had figured out “the word” and he proceeded to spell it out for verification (at least he knew enough not to blurt it out): ‘F’-‘U’-‘K’-‘I’-‘N’.
The first few thoughts going through my head at that moment actually involved variations on that word. I finally decided that his knowing the word wasn’t the end of the world. But I decided a little reinforcement was in order. So after confirming he had figured it out, I asked him “Do you remember what happened to Ralphie AFTER he used that word?”
He nodded and said “He got soap put in his mouth.” I think he sensed where I was taking the conversation because he dropped his eyes to the ground and did a couple of nervous little foot flicks at the air in front of him.
“Well, if you want to avoid the same punishment, then I’d better not ever hear you using words like that,” I said. Then I continued “In fact, I’ll probably make you brush your teeth with soap if I hear that from you.” The lass gasped and blurted out “EEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWW!” I added “And the same goes for YOU” and pointed at the lass so there was no opportunity for confusion.
He looked up at me, nodding, and said “I won’t.”
And we left it at that. A couple minutes later, they were both in a heated discussion about what the worst word you could say was. I broke in and directed the conversation to a more parentally approved topic when the competition was between the ‘D’ word and the ‘B’ word. And I reinforced that they should not be using any of those words. They both indicated that they wouldn’t. Ever.
Of course, I know better than that.
Categories
Sparky Rides Again!
His triumphant return was marked with song and dance and drink and merriment through out the land.
PAH!
Who am I kidding? It was marked with immediate requests for this, that and the other thing. Including asking him to sit in certain places.
The kids clearly missed the little guy.
Categories
Star of the Week Letter
Here’s the letter the Wife and I sent out for the boy’s Star of the Week thingy. To be honest, it was one of those assignments that ended up being more the Wife’s and mine than his. Sure, he had a few “My favorite is this” and “I like that” things to do. But the Wife printed out the pictures and cut them so they could be pasted in place. And the Wife asked for letter’s from immediate family for him. But I guess that’s the nature of the beast.
It’s hard to know what to write to you. We’ve been watching you grow up for 7 years now. Seven years might seem like a long time to you, but for your Mom and I it’s been very short. That’s probably hard for you to understand- how can a long time be short? Well, it’s like when you are with your friends. You’re so busy having fun that you forget that time goes by. And before you know it, it’s time for your friend to go home.
In your case, you’re a busy kid. You play soccer, baseball and hockey. You participate in Cub Scouts and practice karate as well as go to school. And then there are the times we go to the museum or the zoo or the beach or the park. All of those activities keep Mom and I and your sister go-go-going all the time along with you. So none of us notice all the time going by. You started out as a baby and before we knew it, here you are as a 2nd grader.
So what are some of the things your Mom and I can say about you? For one, you don’t like to wake up in the morning. You like to stay in your nice warm bed and sleep. When you do (finally!) get up, you like to watch TV. Your favorite cartoons right now are The Pink Panther and Avatar. That’s neat for your Mom and I because we used to watch the The Pink Panther when we were growing up.
You’re becoming more interested in football now. That’s neat for Dad because football is his favorite sport. Did you know the first time he ever sat and watched a football game with you, you cried? You were just a baby then, and he turned on a game with you and then looked at you and said “YAY! FOOTBALL!” And you looked at him for a moment, and then started crying. Mom just laughed.
You can be very serious. Especially when you are playing “Super Mario Brothers” on your DS. You still get upset when you are having a tough time with the game. But you always stick with it and get passed what you are having trouble with. Hopefully that’s something you never stop doing- keep on trying until you succeed.
What are some fun things about you? You are VERY ticklish. Your favorite food is hamburgers with cheese. You like to play hide-and-seek with your friends when they come over. You’ve started collecting Pokemon cards, but you haven’t learned how to play the game yet. That’s OK, none of your friends know how to play either. You like to swim in the ocean. You enjoy spending time doing crafts and baking with Mom. And you get very excited when Sparky appears each year.
Wow. That’s a lot of stuff already, and I could write a lot more too. I know earlier I wrote that 7 years seems like a short time, but the fact is you can (and you have!) done a lot in 7 years. Your Mom and I have been around that whole time, watching you and helping you and teaching you. There is still a lot for you to do and to learn. And your Mom and I are looking forward to it.
We love you!
Categories
Writer’s Block
Well- not really since I don’t consider myself a writer. And if I’m not a writer, then I can’t have a block.
But I’m sitting here watching the Steelers-Chiefs game trying to come up with a letter for the boy’s “Student of the Week” thingy. Of course, this is his week. Compounding matters is that everyone else has written him a letter. But I just haven’t been able to come up with a plan of attack to write it.
I’m my own worst enemy on this sort of stuff as well, trying to come up with something unique or original.
Maybe I should just send in a link to a website I know…
Categories
3’s A Crowd
The boy had one of his friends over today. This situation leads to problems with his sister, whom does not understand that she’s the third wheel. The boy’s expectations aren’t entirely unreasonable, since he wants to hang out with his bud for a bit. The lass, for her part, doesn’t make it easy for him. She wants to play with his friends as well and doesn’t understand why she shouldn’t be able to. So she tails after them hi and lo throughout the house.
I ran interference a few times for him, taking the lass aside to play games with her and keep her occupied for a time. But there’s only so much that I can do, and only so long that she’ll be distracted. Then it’s right back to square one.
It does provide for some amusing moments though. The boy likes to take his friend and make a mad dash for his bedroom where he locks the door and his sister out. The lass, being a seasoned veteran at this point in counter-attacking, simply bides her time. When the boy emerges from the room, she quietly locks his door and closes it so he can’t get back in. He was none too pleased when he realized what she’d done. All I could do was unlock the door and chuckle.
For all his griping about his sister though, he was having a lot of fun running around with her by the end of the afternoon. They were all running around playing the ol’ classic, hide-and-seek. Sure, she seemed to be “it” more often than the boy or his friend; but they were all getting along just fine. Too bad they couldn’t have played like that he whole time.
Maybe next time.
Categories
“That’s Creepy”
The Wife’s after Thanksgiving schedule does not involve trips to the stores for Black Friday. Rather, it involves setting up the Christmas tree.
This year it also involved separating the kids for a time. Blame it on turkey hangover. They sat around most of the morning watching TV and then went right at each other’s throats when the TV went off. Their energy was redirected towards chores, where they continued to fight and snipe at each other.
The Wife and I, in the mean time, took care of the grunt work of tree setup. No natural trees here. We’re all plastic and fantastic. Complete with lights. We also did our best to ignore the yelling and screaming upstairs.
When an eerie silence began to emanate from the upstairs, we had them come down and begin the fun part of tree setup: putting on the ornaments. The kids have various fun ornaments from Hallmark involving Looney Tunes, Rudolf, Harry Potter and so on. The Wife and I also have our own ornaments, which involve Star Wars and A Christmas Story.
The boy became curious about the Christmas Story ornaments. They highlighted some of the better known moments from the movie such as the flat tire scene with “F-U-D-G-E” and the flag pole scene with Flick complete with audio with the push of a button. Of course, having never seen it, he had no appreciation for the scenes depicted. But I think my own fondness for them made him curious in a “What’s the big deal with this movie?” kind of way. So we agreed to let him watch it before going to bed.
Most of the humor was lost on him. Though he did get a kick out of some things like when the Mother is dressing Randy up in his snow suit, or when Randy falls and can’t get up without help. He also chuckled at the over-the-top nature of the two bullies and when the duck got it’s head lopped off at the Chinese restaurant. He even empathised with Ralphie when he got his mouth washed out with soap.
It didn’t occur to me until it was too late that we were running a bit of a risk in letting him watch the movie. In particular, the Santa scene in the mall and then the gift unwrapping scene could have led him to start asking questions. Thankfully, it didn’t. But he did have a couple of comments during the Santa scene. First, when Ralphie finally got his turn and the movie had all the extreme close-ups with the mall Santa bellowing “HO-HO-HO!” in his face, the boy commented “That’s creepy.” Which was actually pretty accurate, really. He also commented on the elves being mean.
When it was all said and done, he was happy Ralphie got his Red Ryder BB Gun. But it’ll be a while before he enjoys the movie like I do.
Categories
A New Approach
One of the challenges, for me personally, having the kids involved in youth sports is the practice dynamic. I, having participated in college sports and continuing to practice various athletic disciplines, know what it takes to not just be good, but be very good. Going out and practicing really isn’t enough- the practice needs to be focused and effort needs to be given and a vision of proficiency has to be maintained and strived for at all times. Also, in order to prevent burning out an athlete needs to rotate through different kinds of routines and drills as well as rotate through different aspects within the discipline.
Having said that, it’s pretty clear that expecting a 7 year old to get all that is a bit of a stretch. Their attentions spans are notoriously short and they have their own things they want to be good at. Like Mario Brothers or Mario Kart. Also, it seeming more and more likely that 7 is the age where a certain amount of rebellion starts to set in. But that’s a different topic.
So typically, when I bring the kids to a practice, I try to encourage them and emphasize “having fun.” To them that mostly, I think, means shucking and jiving with their friends during practice. It doesn’t generally materialize into a consistent amount of effort at trying to get better. In fact, I see a lot of times where they just go through the motions.
Which drives me crazy.
I’m a firm believer that the better an athlete is at a sport, the more fun it is. Not giving effort in practice basically means no improvement; thus, it’s just not as much fun and increases the likelihood of quitting. Actually, I think the basic principle applies to any discipline.
So I’m starting to try to get them to pick something to work on when they practice. But I don’t pick it for them. I just ask what they think they need to improve on. If their reply is to general, like for karate the boy might say “sparring”, I steer him towards something more specific.
“Like what in sparring? Kicking? Blocking?”
By getting them to focus on something in practice, I’m hoping for a number of things. First, that their effort level will improve. Second, they’ll start to get much better. And third, they’ll start to enjoy it more because they are getting better. With any luck, it’ll form a positive feedback loop where having fun motivates them to get even better, making it more fun.
Categories
He’s Not That Good
From a PFT article about Rex Ryan’s attempts to motivate his QB:.
And perhaps that would be the next step in Rex’s second annual effort to get Sanchez’s attention.
I find this remarkable because Mark Sanchez is a pro quarterback on a highly visible team with a highly visible coach. For the past 3 years including this one, the Jets have been expecting to make the playoffs. In each of those 3 years, Sanchez has been the mitigating factor. Or, more precisely, his play has been the mitigating factor.
Sanchez consistently says he knows what’s expected of him and that he has to perform better. Yet, here we are with his coach having to play mind games in an attempt to motivate him.
Given all the above factors, how can Sanchez need to be motivated? If he’s capable of playing at a higher level, then he should be doing everything in his power to get there. More films, more practice, whatever it takes. He shouldn’t need someone driving him. If he does, then I’d say the Jets need to start looking for a better quarterback.
The way I see it, there are 2 possibilities here: that Sanchez isn’t the quarterback the Jets thought he was, or the offensive staff isn’t as effective at teaching the quarterback position and offense in general. Personally, I’m of an opinion that’s a version of former: he’s just a middling quarterback with the maddening knack for performing above average under pressure.