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Open thread
- By Phillip Brownlee
- Posted Dec. 22, 2006 at 1:05 a.m.
- Filed under Open thread
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107 Comments
Quote of the Day:
“Politics, as a practice, whatever its professions, has always been the systematic organization of hatreds” - Henry Adams
Viva La Revolucion Blanco!!
Ian,So, how was the pajama party at Ahmadinejad’s? Now between him and David Duke, who’s the best in a pillow fight?
=)
Actually there is some truth to that quote.
Senator Brownback and the JudgeIf most people were asked to list the qualities they want in a federal judge, few would include “has not attended a same-sex commitment ceremony.” But that was the outrageous litmus test that Senator Sam Brownback, Republican of Kansas, applied to Janet Neff, whose nomination he has been blocking. Mr. Brownback — who has presidential ambitions — now says he will allow a vote on her nomination. We hope that is a sign that gay-baiting is becoming less tolerable, even to Republican primary voters.
Judge Neff, a Michigan state court judge, attended the commitment ceremony of the daughter of a family who had lived next door to her for 26 years. She said that attending and delivering a homily was like joining in an important event in the life of one of her own daughters.
Mr. Brownback, one of the most conservative senators, considered it to be a disqualifier for the bench. Later, he made an equally objectionable offer: he would allow a vote on Judge Neff if she agreed to recuse herself from cases involving same-sex unions. The Senate does not get to tell federal judges what areas of law they may rule on.
Senator Brownback now seems to be calculating that even in the Republican Party, the sort of extreme bigotry he has shown toward gay people would not be a selling point. At a time when Vice President Dick Cheney’s lesbian daughter is pregnant and President Bush has declared himself “happy for her,” Mr. Brownback’s hostility puts him far out on the political fringe.
Mr. Brownback says that although he will allow Judge Neff’s nomination to come to a vote, he is still likely to vote against her. If he does, he should be asked to explain his vote if he hits the presidential campaign trail. Whether someone has attended a same-sex commitment ceremony is not a worthy litmus test to impose on someone seeking an important office. Whether someone holds hateful views toward gay people certainly is.
Tracy,Indeed, there’s nothing one can do from preventing gay marriage in society, especially since New Jersey has allowed same sex marriage in everything but name. (Why they don’t call it “same-sex marriage” I haven’t the slightest idea.) One question though, let’s say the judge was present at a cross-burning, would you say that is grounds for not appointing said judge?
Wellp. I’ll be doing my morning calisthenics, still waiting for reply.
I don’t know Will.I just pasted that because of the Kansas connection.I guess I really don’t care.If he’s a great judge, then he could be a porno star in his spare time as far as I’m concerned.
This goes back to the drug test issue also,as far as I’m concerned.Pot can show up for months after it’s used, and lots of good people are kept out of the workforce because of it.Here in smalltown, we had a guy working for the city, as a janitor at city hall. Nice guy, hard worker, always there. He got nabbed in the random drug screening with low levels of weed in his system, BAM, he’s fired.Now I just wanna know why?He wasn’t stoned at work.He wasn’t wildly dangerous with his dustmop.He didn’t threaten anybody with his toilet brush!I guess because he musta’ tooted a root at a party or sumpin’, he must not be moral enough to clean the Mayor’s toilet.Sheesh. Double sheesh.PC gone wild.
Okay, quit the sit-ups.I’m done.
Enjoy
http://www.angelfire.com/wa/zzaran/calvin.html
MOM & NUT.Ya’ll oughta take this show on the road.College campuses and stuff.Big Liddy vs. Leary debate/slugfest kinda’ meme.
This would be really popular in today’s pol climate.Probably better than BillO vs Franken.
Whadya’ think?Could be good money!We all like money.
Love Calvin. I actually recieved the Snowman series a couple of weeks ago by e-mail. Must be circulating around the net.
Thanks for the link!
Interesting comments about coal and wind power from a long time Kansas blogger.
http://www.kansasprairie.net/blog1/blogindex.htm
And I see governor leadership is in the Lawrence newspaper today talking about coal fired plants.
http://www.ljworld.com/
Today’s Bushism:”I understand that the unrest in the Middle East creates unrest throughout the region”
3/12/2002
Thank God for Geography 101!
Will - about Ahmanidinajad. He got his ass handed to him by voters in local elections this past week. I think his party got something like a quarter of the vote. Let’s hope he gets further spanked by the Iranian people.
Top George Bush Slogans
I’ll turn capital punishment into a new game show!
I promise to get cocaine off our streets: 1 kilo at a time.
I’ll finish what Bill started — the interns.
Like father, like son.You liked my dad, right?
Vote for the GOP, Not OPP.
I promise no sex scandal:just look at me.
New penal plan:I won’t use mine!
Read my lips:Al Gore Sucks.
George W. Bush:No hang-ups. Just hangovers
Vote for Bush and against Common Sense.
Thought for today…
“Grace is receiving what we do not deserve.Mercy is not receiving what we do deserve.”
My favorite Calvin and Hobbes quote:
“God grant me the strength to change what I canThe inability to accept what I can’tAnd the incapacity to tell the difference”
Mary - That’s very good!!
ACLU supports religious expression:
“ACLU of New Jersey Applauds Ruling in Favor of Student’s Right to Sing “Awesome God” (12/12/2006)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT: media@aclu.org
Ruling is a Victory for Religious Expression Rights, ACLU Says
NEWARK, NJ - The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey today praised a decision by U.S. District Court Judge Freda L. Wolfson protecting the religious expression rights of students. The court held that a Frenchtown Elementary School student had the right to sing the song “Awesome God” at a school talent show. The ACLU of New Jersey submitted a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the student.”The ACLU has a long-standing dedication to defending religious freedom,” said ACLU of New Jersey Executive Director Deborah Jacobs. “We are proud to help secure this child’s right to sing a religious song at the talent show.”The second-grade student wanted to sing the song “Awesome God” in a voluntary, after-school talent show. School officials refused to allow her to sing the song, saying it would give the impression that the school favored religion.In its brief, the ACLU of New Jersey argued that no reasonable observer would have believed that the school endorsed the religious message behind the student’s song, and that the school therefore had no right to deny her choice of song. The talent show was open for anyone from kindergarten through 8th grade who wished to play a solo instrument, dance, perform a skit or sing to karaoke. Students were permitted to select their own songs or skits. Consistent with ACLU arguments, the court held that because the school allowed students to choose their own songs, they could not reject the student’s choice of song because of its religious content.”We’re pleased that today’s decision helps ensure that a student’s constitutional right to freely express her religious views is protected,” said ACLU cooperating attorney Jennifer Klear of the law firm Drinker, Biddle & Reath. “The court upheld an important distinction between religious expression that is initiated or expressed by school officials and speech that is initiated by individual students. Schools cannot censor student-initiated speech at after-school talent shows and other public forums.”
The ACLU of New Jersey has participated in other cases involving the right of individual religious expression, including recently helping to ensure that jurors are not removed from jury pools for wearing religious clothing and that prisoners are able to obtain religious literature.For other cases in defense of religious freedom filed by ACLU affiliates nationwide, go to http://www.aclu.org/religion/govtfunding/26526res20060824.html ”
http://www.netscape.com/viewstory/2006/12/21/aclu-of-new-jersey-applauds-ruling-in-favor-of-students-right-to-sing-awesome-god/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aclu.org%2Freligion%2Fschools%2F27673prs20061212.html&frame=true
Mary - I thought it was the wisdom to carefully hide the bodies.
Oldie but a goodie…
A friend will bail you out of jail…
A true friend will be sitting next to you saying “DAMN that was FUN!!!”
Sebelius calls for raise in her pay and that of legislature.
http://www.cjonline.com/stories/122206/leg_payreview.shtml
I was wrapping presents last night and it struck me. I think watching my boy open presents is more fun than when I was a kid opening my own. Anyone else feel like that?
Tracy,I was supposed to prove my point followed by some course language and pure vitriole, but since it’s Christmas, I’ll refrain from doing so.
sol - absolutely!
;^)
Sol,Undoubtedly. The joy of watching my kids open presents is beyond almost any other joy in my life.
Will, so I guess you mean that you agree with Sammy?Okay.I won’t talk you out of it.
Wisdom is what is left when we run out of personal opinions……I can’t remember who! HA
And I believe you neant ‘coarse’ language?Fire away,I’m a big fan of vitriol, base humor and sarcasm!
And I believe I meant ‘meant’.Double Ho Ho.Merry christmas.
Tracy- You gravy suckin’ pig– Merry X-mas!! (Only Kidding).
That would be lump-free , non-trans fat gravy, please.
G
Tracy,Great idea re: “take your show on the road”..but..
Can I pick someone else besides her to come along? Someone good lookin’(although I acknowledge that I have no idea what she looks like). I’d have fun on college campuses. Those young liberal minds can clearly use some redirection. =)
The big news in my area today. Have fun with this one lefties.
Easter, Christmas break it isHigh school district approves name changeBY LISA SCHENCKER, Californian staff writere-mail: lschencker@bakersfield.com | Thursday, Dec 21 2006 11:25 PMLast Updated: Thursday, Dec 21 2006 11:29 PM
Kern High School District students will no longer have winter and spring breaks; they’ll have Christmas and Easter breaks.
District trustees voted 4-1 Thursday morning to change the names of the breaks to Christmas and Easter breaks. Trustees Ken Mettler, Chad Vegas, Bryan Batey and Joel Heinrichs voted in favor of the name change. Board President Bob Hampton voted against it.
Mettler and Vegas said they voted for the name change to uphold American tradition.
“Christmas is a federal holiday,” Mettler said. “It can certainly be recognized at the Kern High School District level.”
Batey said he voted in favor of the change for many reasons including because he believes it has wide community support.
Heinrichs said he was torn on the issue and hesitated before voting. He said he ultimately voted in favor of the change so the community could move on to other educational issues.
“It is a reasonable accommodation of tradition and less distracting for students in the long term,” Heinrichs said after the vote.
Hampton was the lone board member to vote against the change.
“The spiritual side of students belongs at home and in church,” Hampton said shortly before the vote.
The vote followed discussion from trustees and heated comments from more than a dozen community members. Most, including Christians, Jews and people of other faiths, spoke out against the name change.
“There are so many other religious and ethnic groups in Kern County,” said Stockdale parent Devinder Singh Bains. “Other religions are just as important.”
Temple Beth El Rabbi Cheryl Rosenstein was one of several local Jewish community leaders who spoke. She also submitted a letter to board members before the meeting signed by her and more than 10 other local religious leaders, including the leaders of several Methodist churches, Congregation B’Nai Jacob and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Kern County, among others.
“What is truly ‘American’ and ‘traditional’ is the fact that our citizens — and students — come from everywhere, and celebrate many different things,” the letter said. “Please leave spiritual matters to us in our homes and houses of worship, where they properly belong.”
Terri Stanton, the district’s former director of instruction, said she felt compelled to speak against the change. She angrily left the board room immediately after the vote.
“I am completely appalled this board would be this cowardly and this narrow-minded,” Stanton said. “This was absolutely exclusive and divisive.”
Several people who identified themselves as Christians also expressed their disappointment.
“It appalls me to think this group would be so insensitive to the feelings of other religions,” said community member Jerry Ludeke.
Only a few audience members stood to speak in favor of the name change, including City Councilwoman Jacquie Sullivan.
“Let’s educate our children and let them know this two-week break is because of Christmas,” Sullivan said.
She pointed out that Christmas is only a few days away. One audience member whispered quietly that it was already Hanukkah.
Community member Terri Rocha also spoke in favor of the name change.
“I’m for Christmas,” Rocha said. “It’s a time for everybody. I think the more we chip away and chip away, we’re left with fractions and divisions.”
After the speakers took their turns, board members had their say.
“I just disagree that Christmas and Easter are irrelevant traditions,” Vegas said. He also responded to one audience member’s claim that some board members were only in favor of the name change in order to win future votes.
Vegas said it’s not fair for others to jump to conclusions about his motives.
“I could jump to the motive that some of you have atheist or secular agendas and are trying to suppress me as a Christian,” Vegas said before Hampton called the meeting back to order.
Heinrichs declined to comment during the public discussion several times, and then commented shortly before the vote after saying he wished there was more discussion.
“I’m really very conflicted on this vote,” Heinrichs said before pausing for several seconds, voting yes and then falling back into his chair. His vote was met with groans from the audience.
Batey also tried to defer comment but ultimately asked Mettler to clarify how the change would affect the district. Mettler said the district will not destroy or reprint any of its current calendars for the change. He also said students, teachers and principals are still free to call the breaks winter and spring breaks if they so choose.
Batey wrote in a statement that he supported the change for those reasons as well as “wide community support.”
He also wrote that his support of the item, which Vegas brought to the attention of the board, “sends a loud and clear message that (Vegas) is part of a five-member board and that he is invited to join the rest of us in improving schools, raising test scores, expanding career education and updating boundaries.”
If they don’t like what the break is called, they can show up at school during said breaks to show their disapproval.
Hola coconuts, check out my blog about my recent trip on the Holohoax http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=123344840 Viva La Raza Blanco
While I don’t care what the breaks are called, I am wondering if the “Easter break” in the district in question includes Easter weekend; or whether it is in conjunction with “Spring break” of colleges in the area. If the district routinely has its Spring break at the time of Easter every year, call it Easter break; if, however, the timing of the break is to coincide with the college Spring break, which, occasionally occurs during Easter week, then why not call it Spring break, as the timing has nothing to do with Easter?
OK, off topic for just a moment; why has the “Spring break” phenomenon hit the K-12 world anyway? Admittedly showing my age, there wasn’t such a thing when I was in school; first time I enjoyed it was in college. Now, with colleges having a short “Fall break”, roughly 1/2 way through the Fall semester, will the K-12 world want to adopt this, too?
Following up my earlier comments on “breaks”, the one in the winter may be denominated “Hanukka, Christmas, Kwanza, Saturnalia, and (insert proper name for other winter solstice related celebrations here) break” for all I care. Of course, this may be avoided by the term “Winter break”; not a problem.
The Germans have many more breaks than American schools and have higher education standards with better results.
What I can’t believe are the high schoolers that end up in Mexico for Spring Break. Holy crap what were their parents thinking?!?!?!?
It’s a whole nother set of rules down there. There kid can get picked up and put in jail and never heard from again. Same goes with kidnapping. Nuts if you ask me.
But Nut….That’s the whole point.People wanna see conflict.You two are diametrically opposed on almost everything.Just like the pundits on the ever popular ‘junk news’ talk shows.If you’re attracted to your opponent…well it just ain’t the same.Kinda’ like washing your feet with your socks on,they get wet, but it just ain’t the same.
The Germans also “track” students, separating them into the “university” track and the “vocational (for lack of a better word)” track around, IIRC, the 5th grade. I understand that it is possible for a late bloomer to move to the university track at a later time, after successfully completing a test, etc. America, on the other hand, places everyone into school, with each theoretically preparing for college or university.
Point: it is my opinion that if the assessment of educational performance of the students in the U.S. against other developed countries was truly “apples to apples”, the U.S. would fare better, i.e., only the scores of the truly college bound students taking the college prep curriculum in the U.S. being compared against the scores of the students in other countries, such as Germany, who have been allowed to pursue the university track. I’m not saying the U.S. students would do better than these other countries’ students; but I believe the differential would be quite a bit smaller.
Tracy,Well, upon further review…
And, knowing that I am a slut for money…
I’M IN!
The Spring Break here is the week prior to Easter.I like your point Sol on showing up at school during the break.Also of note though is there is a big fight right now with the district by a family who pulled their daughter out of school on Ash Wednesday to get ashes (just a couple of hours). The district gave this an “unexcused” absence.My feeling on this is, it’s none of the districts business what I want to pull my child out for. If I choose that something is important enough to miss school over, it is excused. It’s my tax dollars funding the school and my child. Nothing else matters at that point.
Didn’t we do that in the 50’s Vaughn?
Damn straight KIA
Governors should not appoint judges with a conservative view on marriage because doing so would perpetuate the notion that we are not a free society. Indeed the symbols of the Republican party are an elephant, and a fat white guy who’s afraid of change!
Alright NUT.If mom signs on (without bringing a weapon), I’ll have to take a cut for producing the whole shabang.Capitalism, ya’ know!
gster, I got a big straw for the gravy.I would prefer all the grease fat and lumps please!I mean, that’s what gravy is all about.
Merry Christmas, redneck USA!!
Will, I can see you really are in the spirit.Not one damned mean thing in that last post.
Tracy,I’m doing a role reversal that Ksgrm proposed on the Dubious, Bogus… Thread.
All right, opposites day!I’ll hafta’ check out the headlines.
My college spring break did not always councide with Easter. In high school we got a half-day for Good Friday and that was it.
How about giving people the week of Passover off?
You know what? Why don’t we recognize EVERY holiday for EVERY religion and make each and every holiday a national day off? Now that is the epitome of Political Correctness my friends!
I want “National Talk Like a Pirate Day” off.Aaaargh!
How dare those Fundies. Forcing their peganistic myths down our throats again. Easter break. Get a grip. Separation of CHURCH and State !!! Can’t they read the constitution?
Opposite day SUCKS !!!!
Yeah! Tell those Reich-Wing fundy zealots that the Founding Fathers didn’t believe in some fictitious God or put him in the Constitution cuz they were smarter than that! Of course the Kansas Taliban are too dumb to figure it out!
We are all one race, the HUMAN race!
Viva la Miscegenation!!
HAHAHAHAHHA
Ian wins !!!!!!
Sol,Yes watching the kiddos Christmas morning is one of the best things. Of course being woken up at 0darkthirty by the 3 yearold isn’t the greatest but the sheer joy of our holiday tradions from they eyes of a preschooler reminds me of the joy of the season. Even the 13 year old comes out of his lair occasionally and is communicative. :)My 3 year old has been pestering me for a week now to make the reindeer food we always make Christmas Eve and put out for the reindeer to snack on while Santa stops at our house on his rounds.
Reindeer food(for those interested)is:Rolled Oats (nonflavored non instant oatmeal)glitter (this is what helps the reindeer fly)cookie sprinkles and/or sugar(for flavoring)Carrots (’cause they need their veggies)
Yes the reindeer (or rabbits/coons/possums) really eat this stuff and Santa leaves extra good presents for remembering to feed not only him but his reindeer.
Hope everyone reading this has an especially joyous Christmas!!!!!!!
Holy Shit! I would have never expected that from Ian! (if that’s really him!)
O of Will,Opposite day.
Julie,I never participated in reindeer food as a kid, but I did make a batch or two for mine. The sheer look of amazement when they ever so carefully place the food in the yard. Yeah, if you could bottle that, you’d make Bill Gates look poor.
Yes, KIA, but not as official government education policy; rather, it was done (without any “testing”) within each school, usually high schools. I suspect, from my own experience in high school in the mid to late ’60s that many of those ‘placed’ in wood shop, metal shop, etc., would now be classified as Special Ed for LD, BD, or both. Man, those guys in metal shop could turn a mean knob for the floor shifter, though…:)
Yes Testicle, you’ve got me, I’m hideous. I’ll try not to offend your sensitive eyes with my warty nose and buck teeth. Maybe a veil would be in order.
I’d go head to head with testicles.
“Why don’t we recognize EVERY holiday for EVERY religion and make each and every holiday a national day off?”
I LIKE that idea! And lots of food too.
Hey, don’t try to force your beliefs on me you fascist theocrat!!! Science has thoroughly disproven religion! The only reason you cling to your superstitious beliefs is because it makes you feel more American. You Kansas Taliban are always telling people what to do, telling women what they can and cant do with their bodies! Tellin teachers what they can and cant teach in schools! Well I’ve had it with the likes of you! If you can’t accept the fact that America isn’t at all a Christian nation, then you should move somewhere else where they tolerate your knuckledragging types! Move to Saudi Arabia, you’ll feel right at home!
ur too good at this will.
Thanx y’all. You made this one hell of a friday. Can’t remember when I laughed this much at work !!!!
I said:”…Someone good lookin’(although I acknowledge that I have no idea what she looks like)…”
and Pee says:”Yes Testicle, you’ve got me, I’m hideous. I’ll try not to offend your sensitive eyes with my warty nose and buck teeth.’
If PeeMom doesn’t like what she hears (reads), she just inserts her own words.
Insecure much?
“I’d go head to head with testicles.”
This is the statement that paints a picture I don’t care to see!
well wouldn’t you be insecure with a warty nose and buck teeth too?
heh.
My biggest concern with our schools out here is they don’t measure learning imho. It is all about being able to pass a standardized test so the schools continue to get funding.There are kids that are special ed students that can pass all courses to graduate HS and move on to a JC or something and then a 4 year, but can not pass the CA high school exit exam. This is BS. It is a big reason why I will likely be leaving this state before my children get to that point.Am I correct that graduating from a KS High School, you pretty much apply and are admitted to any of your State U’s? Basically the college experience will weed the students out to who “belongs” there and doesn’t. I’m much more in favor of that and the student realizing - this isn’t for me - than a bunch of schools out here saying “you aren’t good enough”.
Hank Price is nothing but a Republikkkan CONservative Kansas Taliban! You should be ashamed of yourself Hank!
Not only that he is taking away PolMom’s right to artistic expression.Don’t you NEOcons know that in the most enlightened nation on the planet - France - that fellatio is a time honored tradition of artistic expression for women?
KSGN,You kiss you Mom with that mouth you sexest pig????
George Bush makes purrrfect cogent sense!!
ARRRGGGGhhhhh! (Phoooey- I can’t do anymore of this!!)
How do I get rid of this horrible taste??
I feel like I ate a 2 week old dead cat.
I might be more understanding of Joe Williams!!
NOT!!
anti-gster
I agree, Mr. Left! Certainly no modern haute-coutteure French woman would ever let a chauvinistic sexist uneducated brute like Hank Price talk to her the way he did!!!
I just wanna say…and this comes from the bottom of my heart…
THANK GOD FOR PRESIDENT BUSH!!!
THIS IS GREAT!This is the first real truce I’ve seen since Christmas eve in France, WW1.HA.
Thank you Sponge Bob.
Head to head with testicles?Can we say that in public?
John Kerry was ROBBED.
MrK, not any longer. A few years ago, Kansas adopted a “qualified admission” program for the Regents Institutions. Thereunder, admission to a Regents Institution is limited to (assuming the applicant is not age 21 or over): a) those who attain a composite score on the ACT of 21 or over; b) graduate in the top third of their class; or c) have completed the Regents’ Recommended Curriculum with a GPA of 2.5 or above.
As you may have picked up by the posts of several of us on other threads in the past, the use of standardized tests (in Kansas, the “State Assessments”) is required under NCLB. These assessments are found in every state (except Utah?) as they are required under NCLB as a condition precedent to receipt of federal educational funding. They also do not measure education, IMHO; but you will not escape them by moving (except possibly to Utah, IIRC, which state has decided to not accept federal funding and thus is not subject to the NCLB requirements).
Kansas does not have a high school exit exam; other than CA, NY comes to mind as a state with such. As to your comment about passing all HS courses, etc., this is becoming an issue in college admissions, due to perceived, if not actual grade inflation in high schools, together with a lack of uniformity among the several states and their schools about how “honors classes” are determined. This does not apply to the AP courses, but from my reading, it is my understanding that grades in such courses are also subject to considerable skepticism if the student does not sit for the exam. Many colleges and universities are reluctantly giving greater weight to the SAT/ACT scores, as the result of this and other “feel good” things being done in high schools across the country, e.g., abolition of class rankings; higher than a 4.0 maximum for grades achieved in AP/IB/Honors classes; multiple Valedictorians, selected on a basis other than grades. The high schools doing this are fooling themselves, and doing a disservice to their students. Both our daughters applied to, and were accepted by, so-called “competitive” colleges. One of the first requirements on the Counselor’s report is to identify the grading system used by the high school; if different than the “normal” 4.0 system, what the applicant’s GPA would be under such system; an evaluation by the counselor of the abilities of the applicant in several areas, as an attempt to get around the lack of class rankings. The latter item is also required of teachers giving recommendations.
Good luck to you in finding a state where your children may receive a ’suitable education’, however you might define the term. As noted above, you won’t escape the standardized test rubric, unless NCLB is amended.
Clinton was the finest president since JFK. Hillary will turn this country back around !!!!
My new year’s resolution?To help bring creationism into the science class.Ando also stop any scientific research, especially ESC.
Okay, this is starting to hurt.I think I’ll go puke and come back as me.I guess I like me more than I thought I did.HA.
Okay, I’m back.I wiped my mouth and got a mint.This is more like sumpin’ I’d post:
[IN THE AUDITORIUM, CHARLIE BROWN AND LINUS ARE STAGE RIGHT, AND THE REST OF THE PEANUTS GANG ARE STAGE LEFT]
CHARLIE BROWN: I guess I really don’t know what Christmas is all about. [SHOUTS] Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?
LINUS: Sure Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about. [WALKS TO CENTER STAGE] Lights please.
[LIGHTS GO DOWN, SPOTLIGHT ON LINUS]
LINUS: And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
[LIGHTS COME BACK UP AS LINUS WALKS BACK]
That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
My New Year’s resolution is to stop eating those extra-large pizzas three times a week, not that they are making me gain weight!
I also resolve that I will not use fictional news accounts except those that fit my purpose!
I really love testicles, I really, really do!
Tracy, your post as the “real” you taken from the Charlie Brown Christmas recalls my being assigned, multiple times (really cannot recall how many), to read those verses from the Gospel of St. Luke at the annual Whitewater Grade School Christmas Program. I came close to having them memorized before we moved after my 7th grade year. Thank you for awakening the memory.
Kline’s Revenge:
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/16300030.htm
Now we will find out if there is any fire … or just smoke.
Thanks to my wonderful parents,the Linus speech brings back lots of great memories for me too.
VT, I read them to the entire high school one year.
Delores, thank you, thank you, for the Calvin link. I’m still chuckling, and I really need that today.
By the way, all, Happy Witner Solstice (one day late) to everyone! Let’s enjoy those growing longer days and hope the weather doesn’t decide to become like Denver’s.
(ahem) That’s WINTER Solstice, not witner.
sheesh
mom, ya’ know I should have some REALLY crude remark about your fondness of testicles.Since it’s christmas I won’t even go there.Nope, not even going to mention anything about your fondness of testicles.Nope. Not a word.Well,maybe one….HA!
Most peculiar day on the blog I’ve seen in history!!
Liberating huh?
ok ok ok - nothing like peer pressure.
Minimum wage should be $20/hr.Health care should be free to all.The GOP should be abolished.If we would just love and nurture the terrorists, they won’t bother us anymore.We should not import anything.Disciplining our children is no longer acceptable.We need more lawyers - specifically, ACLU lawyers.Capital murder gets you 1-5 with a chance at parole anytime after sentencing.Women get equal pay for equal work - regards of any other circumstances.
More to come, if I can keep a straight face…
–The Anti-Golfer–1/(Golfer)
Oh YeahPolitical_mom rules and has full and complete access to my testicles.
I do believe you have the most famous testicles in the state.I now appoint you the title of:YOUR BALLSINESS!
Man this would really tick Colbert off.
MrK, a followup question, if you please. When you reference …”a bunch of schools out here saying ‘you’re not good enough’”, is the California University and College System still, for lack of a better term, “tiered”? IIRC, some 37 - 38 years ago, the admission requirements for UCal Berkley, UCLA, were the highest, that is, the admittees were those who scored highest on SAT, had highest GPA, etc; then, there was a tier that admitted those in the next level of achievement; then there was…, on and on, with all CA residents who had graduated high school guaranteed admission to a JC. Is this still the case?
JD,Glad you enjoyed Calvin and Hobbes.Laughing is always good for the sole.
Thanks for the info Vaughn.Yes HS Graduation (or GED) is all that is required to enter a JC.I’m not positive on the standards of the UC’s but both those and the Cal State’s are more and more difficult as they do have admission caps (only so many per year in) and with competition from foreign students (mostly Asian) it is more and more difficult to enter with anything below a 4.0 average.
MrKIA, thank you for the response. Best wishes for a Merry Christmas to you and your family.
To you and yours as well VT.
http://www.radiokansas.org/listen.cfm
Some nice Christmas music …
For all, in the words of C. Clement Moore: “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night”.
Thought some of you might be interested in this follow up to the story I posted this AM.
Man sets himself on fire to protest school break name changeBy JESSICA LOGAN and CHRISTINA SOSA, Californian staff writerse-mail: jlogan@bakersfield.com and csosa@bakersfield.com | Friday, Dec 22 2006 4:38 PMLast Updated: Friday, Dec 22 2006 6:37 PM
A day after the Kern High School District board of directors voted to rename winter and spring break as Christmas and Easter break, a man set himself on fire in front of the Liberty Bell on Truxtun Avenue in apparent protest.
The man, who was not immediately identified, used flammable liquid to set himself, a Christmas tree, an American flag and a revolutionary flag replica on fire just before 3:30 p.m., according to Bakersfield Fire Captain Garth Milam.
The fire was quickly extinguished by a nearby deputy and parole agent.
Kern County Sheriff’s Deputy Lance Ferguson saw drifts of smoke from the security station at the doors of the court.
The deputy, who mans the security screening at the doors of the court, grabbed a fire extinguisher and ran outside.
Flames were devouring a Christmas tree next to the Liberty Bell where public events and demonstrations are common.
Beside the tree, stood a man with an American flag draped around his shoulders and red gas can over his head.
When the man saw the deputy he poured the liquid over his head and within seconds the fumes from the gas met the flames from the tree and the man ignited in fire.
The deputy yelled to the man again and again to drop to the ground as he and a nearby parole agent emptied their fire extinguishers on him.
“The man stood there like this,” the deputy said with his arms across his chest and his head bent down, “Saying no, no, no.”
Finally the deputy grabbed a sweater on the ground and beat the remaining flames out.
When the flames were out, the man was covered with the chemicals from the fire extinguisher and burns. But he was alive.
The man suffered first degree burns on his shoulders and arms, Milam said.
When the deputy looked over to the Christmas tree he saw a charred heap with lights wrapped around it and a silver star at the top.
Kern County Sheriff’s Deputy John Leyendecker said the man had a sign that read something to the effect of - “(expletive) the religious establishment and KHSD.”
Milam said that on his way to the hospital, the man made some sort of statement about the destructive effect of religion.
Leyendecker believes the man may have set himself on fire as a protest of the recent Kern High School District board decision to call winter and spring break, Christmas and Easter break.
“I’m sad that any man would light themselves on fire because they disagree with a decision by a representative board elected by the voters,” said Trustee Chad Vegas, who brought the issue to the board. “My reaction as pastor is that it demonstrates the deep depravity of man and his need for the grace of God through Jesus Christ.”
Trustee Bob Hampton, the only board member to vote against changing the names of the school breaks, declined to comment until he had further information.
Trustee Joel Heinrichs offered sympathy for the man.
“That’s terrible and I hope he recovers. There’s room in our civil society to have policy disagreements and nobody needs to do anything that extreme,” Heinrichs said.
Trustees Bryan Batey and Ken Mettler could not be immediately reached for comment.
It was not immediately clear what hospital the man was taken to.
“The fast action of Ferguson and the parole officer saved that man’s life,” Leyendecker said.
“Thanks,” the deputy said with his head bent down.
Ferguson has been a Kern County Sheriff’s deputy for about six months, full time about a month.
“It’s the most awful thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” Ferguson said.
The man obviously had some serious mental problems.
SAVE SANTA!!!
http://savesanta.ca/
I’ll post more articles on that as it becomes available if people are interested.
Sounds like the man was mentally ill, but also likely traumatized by something that happened as a result of religion as well.
I can promise you I feel just as strongly, but I’m certainly not going to light myself on fire over it. Geez.
I guess we can all be thankful that he only harmed himself though.
Sounds like a real nutjob - but no more representative of non-Christians than Pharisee Phred Phelps is representative of Christians.