Where else can you get paid $32.02 an hour to read the newspaper?

One of the more astonishing things I’ve come across, as I’ve followed this culture war on teaching science in America, was the Ohio board member that read the newspaper all afternoon at a hearing on the state’s science standards.

It’s now come to light through the Columbus Dispatch, that he wasn’t the only board member who felt reading the paper was more appropriate than listening to people who study science talk about science.

At one point, [Michael] Cochran opened a newspaper, joining Baker who had been reading since the board first began debating the issue hours earlier.

The display prompted Brian McEnnis, an Ohio State math professor, to ask, “I would appreciate, sirs, Mr. Cochran and Mr. Baker, if you would refrain from public displays of rude behavior by reading the newspaper when I’m . . .”

Cochran interrupted: “I’m going to do what I want to do when I’m sitting at this table without any type of . . . ”

“Mr. Cochran,” interrupted board President Sue Westendorf , an appointed member from Bowling Green, banging her gavel. ” . . . interruption by you,” Cochran continued. “If you say something appropriate, I’ll listen to it.”

[…]

Board members are paid $32.02 an hour plus travel expenses and attend one 2½-day meeting each month.

It was that last statement of the article that got me thinking… Where else can you get a job to ignore people who are talking to you, read the newspaper, and do it all on the taxpayers dime?

Ocellated’s very interested, though if the interested parties wouldn’t mind, I’d like to get paid $32.02 for blogging, as I often find the papers a tad boring.