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Open thread
- By Phillip Brownlee
- Posted Feb. 20, 2007 at 1:03 a.m.
- Filed under Open thread
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39 Comments
Schools are bad, teachers are bad, education is screwed up! Sorry I could not remember all the words….
Writerdog: Cheer up, the day will get better when the sun comes up!
Good morning Mouse Potatoes and SITCOMs.Welcome to your daily irritainment!
Essential vocabulary additions for the workplace (and elsewhere)!1. BLAMESTORMING: Sitting around in a group, discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible.
2. ASSMOSIS: The process by which some people seem to absorb success and advancement by kissing up to the boss rather than working hard.
3. SALMON DAY: The experience of spending an entire day swimming upstream only to get screwed and die in the end.
4. MOUSE POTATO: The on-line, wired generation’s answer to the couch potato.
5. SITCOMs: Single Income, Two Children, Oppressive Mortgage. What Yuppies get into when they have children and one of them stops working to stay home with the kids.
6. STRESS PUPPY: A person who seems to thrive on being stressed out and whiny.
7. SWIPEOUT: An ATM or credit card that has been rendered useless because magnetic strip is worn away from extensive use.
8. XEROX SUBSIDY: Euphemism for swiping free photocopies from one’s workplace.
9. IRRITAINMENT: Entertainment and media spectacles that are Annoying but you find yourself unable to stop watching them. The J-Lo and Ben wedding (or not) was a prime example – Michael Jackson, another…
10. PERCUSSIVE MAINTENANCE: The fine art of whacking the crap out of an electronic device to get it to work again.
11. ADMINISPHERE: The rarefied organizational layers beginning just above the rank and file. Decisions that fall from the adminisphere are often profoundly inappropriate or irrelevant to the problems they were designed to solve.
12. GENERICA: Features of the American landscape that are exactly the same no matter where one is, such as fast food joints, strip malls, and subdivisions.
LOL I was just surprized that the same rant about schools, teachers and the dumbing dowm of America.
It just did not feel like the same ole open thread with out it!
What kind of man IS Obama? Oprah’s darling, certainly, and perhaps her experiment to see if she has enough influence to ‘buy’ the Presidency, but other that than – what is this wanna-be’s character?
Not too virtuous, if this story is true;
————-”………….Obama says he initiated and led efforts that thrust Altgeld’s asbestos problem into the headlines, pushing city officials to call hearings and a reluctant housing authority to start a cleanup.
But others tell the story much differently.”————–
Hmmmm………
rest of story here:
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-obama19feb19,0,7743616.story?coll=la-home-headlines
” … parents and children in failing schools nationwide aren’t being notified of their school-choice transfer and tutoring options, even though notification is a requirement under NCLB. The news that [Secretary of Education] Ms. Spellings is also letting states slide on even reporting the math and reading test scores of minorities is especially disturbing because accountability is the heart of the federal law.
NCLB makes allowances for schools that have racial groups too small to be statistically significant. But states have been abusing their freedom under the law to determine when a group is too small to count. And Washington is letting them get away with it. According to the AP, nearly two dozen states have successfully petitioned the Education Department “for exemptions to exclude larger numbers of students in racial categories.” Today about one in 14 test scores overall go uncounted. Minorities, whose test scores on average lag those of white students, are seven times as likely to have their test results ignored. That’s an odd way to enforce a law called No Child Left Behind.”
And how did the WE miss THIS little gem concerning water rights in Kansas?
“Water issue advancesHouse readies to vote on IGUCAsA bill pushed by the Kansas Livestock Association that would put a moratorium on the state’s authority to curtail overpumping of groundwater is scheduled for a House vote today.
House Bill 2070 would prohibit the creation of new Intensive Groundwater Use Control Areas, or the expansion of existing ones, until June 30, 2008. It would order an interim study of policies relating to the creation and management of IGUCAs.
The livestock association says IGUCAs potentially harm water-users.
“We believe the permanency of the orders troubles our membership,” said Allie Devine, vice president and general counsel of livestock association and a registered lobbyist. “Some of our members are very concerned that if an IGUCA is placed on them, will it ever be lifted.”
Rep. Charlie Roth, R-Salina, said he was surprised that the bill came out of a budget committee, and he voted against referring the matter to the full House.
“This was kind of a short-cut process,” he said.
http://www.saljournal.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=9973&format=html
Oh, and here is how much this little water stunt by the KLA will cost you in YOUR tax dollars.
http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/2070.pdf
Look for this to have something to do with a proposed IGUCA upstream of Kanopolis or between Kanopolis and Salina.
Hays is also supporting this bill. Big surprise there.
Typical logic of a republican controlled legislature. Put a big irrigation guy in charge of the house ag committee, then STOP the government from doing its job of protecting water.
And then, as the final blow, sneak and hurry something this big through the legislature with little notice. Under the media radar, except for the Salina Journal, apparantly.
Look for the resolution of this to have something to do with Hays and Russell trying to get the state to pay for their own stupid mistaked by buying the Circle K Ranch at $4 million. That is only ONE MILLION more of your tax dollars than the appraised value of the property.
Will governor leadership put a stop to this nonsense? Either house of the legislature? Heheheh.
What do YOU think?
Personally, I think Crowson needs to sharpen his pencils again. Because the fiddlers three are rosening up their bows to play again.
Except this time,like Nero, they are fiddling while we burn through our water supply.
Topeka’s fiddlers three are tuning up to fiddle a dirge. The death dirge of Kansas’ water supply.
Gsheri, that’s quite a damning story.Man that Obama dude is sooo immoral.From your link:”Was [Obama] involved in stuff? Absolutely,” said Robert Ginsburg, an activist who worked in Altgeld with Johnson and Obama. “But there was stuff happening before him, and after him.”
No one disputes that Obama was active in organizing Altgeld residents. Several who worked directly with him say he was the most effective organizer they had seen — a surprise, given his youth. “He was our motivator,” said Callie Smith, now 50. “We did all the work, but he was our inspiration.”
I sure wouldn’t want motivation, inspiration, and organization in the White House all at the same time!
Hell, that might cause some rip in the space/time fabric.You know, cats and dogs living in harmony, etc.
Oh, and thanks for supporting Obama.Dig up some more “dirt” like that and his polls will just go up!
heheheheheh Tracy. Good to see you!
How is your wife? How is your Dad. And sorry, most important to me, HOW ARE YOU?
And as for her link supporting Obama, good for you for still checking up on posted links. Clearly, some posters dont read their own bullshit.
Being ‘involved’ and initiating the action are two separate issues. The folks who worked there before Obama showed up, and those who are still there – didn’t take kindly to him taking all the credit.
This is Strike Two for Oprah’s boy.
Any bets on what the third one will be?
OMG GS you’re scared to death that Liberal Obama might get the nomination.
So you’re seriously going to make a big deal out of symantics?
Wow, that’s truly…sad.
If you listen to gee sherri, the repukes must REALLY be afraid of Obama to be trashing him so early.
And the last I checked, the repukes dont pick the democratic nominee. Wonder why they are so afraid of Obama. They act like they are more afraid of him than Hillary.
Or… wait for it… maybe it is really OPRAH that they hate so much?
Racist AND homophobic? AND a shill for fossil fuels?
I think THAT is the trifecta for this morning!
And writerdog, I got what you were saying right away. Too funny, so sad so many others it went right over their heads. lol.
bad school, blah blah, need religious vouchers, blah blah blah, use tax dollars for my kid to get indoctrinated blah blah blah…
That’s what they do Mom. When they cant support a position with substance OR style, they nit pick the meaning of words down to the gnat’s ass.
Kinda like “what is the meaning of ‘is’?”
Remember, this is not a pipe!!!!
Ok here is the question,
Who do the Repukes hate more, a Black Male or a White Female?
Interesting conundrum…
Covering BOTH the female AND the Black issue – I hereby nominate Condaleeze Rice for the GOP.
Now THERE is a gal who can run this place. Librats are her doormat.
what is the BLack issue?
Sorry Gsheri
I require more of a President than to be a lovesick little puppy like Kindasleeza is for that idiot bush.
Ask Tony – he brought the subject up.
MORNING GIRL!Yep, being an inspirational, motivational organizer is another strike.Sheesh.
BILL CLINTON!!BILL CLINTON!!
Dad and the wifie are hangin’ in there.And me?IT’S A GREAT DAY TO BE ME!!
Oh hell, come on… Havnt you been listening to O’Riley and Rush Lambrain…
Every time they talk about Obama they mention that hes black, every time they talk about Hilary, shes a women. They never say, the white guy when talking about Brownback, or even when talking about Gov Ricards, mention his hispanic background (that much)…
heheeheh. I have a feeling it is always a great day to be YOU!!!!!!
Am I the only one worried about the KLA trying to reduce the state’s ability to regulate water, even as a water crises looms?
…and ya know it isnt DRINKING water for their cattle that they are worried about. KLA is really worried about the state instituting IGUCAs that will reduce their ability to irrigate feed grains.
And there is a hell of a competition looming right now for feed grains like irrigated corn. The ethanol plants need irrigated grain and water. The KLA members are used to having cheap irrigated grain and water. The new coal plant will use HUGE amounts of water.
So… KLA is staking their claim and calling the state’s bluff about water rights. They threw down the gauntlet early to insure that they can pump the hell out of both the alluvial water and the aquifer water.
They also called in some favors in the house to accomplish this by doing an end run and trying to sneak in under the radar. This is just a LITTLE show of muscle for them. They could do much more harm. They have lots of legislators by the short and curlies.
And where is governor leadership in all this? Fiddling, I believe!
ksfg, late to the blog this day; nasty thing called work.
I think, as to the KLA, you’re spot on in your analysis as set out in the 11:51 a.m. post. That makes all kind of sense to me; KLA is accustomed to/needs cheap irrigated feed grains and water to operate, and are concerned about developments occurring in W. Kansas under the guise of “economic development”. The existence of the ethanol plants is already causing the cost of corn, as feed, to rise; water inexorably will be next. So, they’re being first to the trough, so to speak, to defend what I am sure they believe is their divine right to water for use in their operations, whether to irrigate or for their cattle.
Nice power play.
OMG, this is just too funny, but it is not for the faint of heart. So if rude language offends you, dont click.
But, if your sense of humor is intact and not too sensitive, you have to read this. Scroll down a few posts to “Obama” and find out why the right wing toilets are red….
heheheheheh!
http://www.rudepundit.blogspot.com/
Here’s Bush and the RePukes way of “supporting the troops” . . . they support them by leaving them to rot.
Hey, soldiers, get a clue. You’re just “workers” to the RePukes, and workers don’t matter. Once you’re of no use to the money men, they cut you loose and hire fresh meat.
From “The Army Times”:
“Van Antwerp is one of thousands of wounded troops rushed from the war zone for health care and then stranded in administrative limbo. They are at the mercy of a medical evaluation system that’s agonizingly slow, grossly understaffed and saddled with a growing backlog of cases. The wounded soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are stuck in holding companies awaiting hearings and decisions on whether they will continue their military service or be discharged, and if so, at what level of benefits — if any.
“In 2001, 10 percent of soldiers going through the medical retirement process received permanent disability benefits. In 2005, with two wars raging, that percentage dropped to 3 percent, according to the Government Accountability Office. Reservists dropped from 16 percent to 5 percent.
“Soldiers go to VA to try for more benefits, but the department had a staggering 400,000-case backup on new claims in fiscal 2006, according to VA.
“For that reason, Van Antwerp faces another wait at VA. Cases there have an average of a one-year wait. And this is important because it may take a while before Van Antwerp, who must carry a notebook to remember his daily chores, can make his way back to the work world.”
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/02/tnsmedboards070217/
But wait, there’s more–
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070212/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_budget_veterans;_ylt=AvvDmiAxkaJieaxLBOZ0xWayFz4D
WASHINGTON – The Bush administration plans to cut funding for veterans’ health care two years from now — even as badly wounded troops returning from Iraq could overwhelm the system.
Bush is using the cuts, critics say, to help fulfill his pledge to balance the budget by 2012.
After an increase sought for next year, the Bush budget would turn current trends on their head. Even though the cost of providing medical care to veterans has been growing rapidly — by more than 10 percent in many years — White House budget documents assume consecutive cutbacks in 2009 and 2010 and a freeze thereafter.
The proposed cuts are unrealistic in light of recent VA budget trends — its medical care budget has risen every year for two decades and 83 percent in the six years since Bush took office — sowing suspicion that the White House is simply making them up to make its long-term deficit figures look better.
Oh . . . and still more:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/17/AR2007021701172.html
Behind the door of Army Spec. Jeremy Duncan’s room, part of the wall is torn and hangs in the air, weighted down with black mold. When the wounded combat engineer stands in his shower and looks up, he can see the bathtub on the floor above through a rotted hole. The entire building, constructed between the world wars, often smells like greasy carry-out. Signs of neglect are everywhere: mouse droppings, belly-up cockroaches, stained carpets, cheap mattresses.
This is the world of Building 18, not the kind of place where Duncan expected to recover when he was evacuated to Walter Reed Army Medical Center from Iraq last February with a broken neck and a shredded left ear, nearly dead from blood loss. But the old lodge, just outside the gates of the hospital and five miles up the road from the White House, has housed hundreds of maimed soldiers recuperating from injuries suffered in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The common perception of Walter Reed is of a surgical hospital that shines as the crown jewel of military medicine. But 5 1/2 years of sustained combat have transformed the venerable 113-acre institution into something else entirely — a holding ground for physically and psychologically damaged outpatients. Almost 700 of them — the majority soldiers, with some Marines — have been released from hospital beds but still need treatment or are awaiting bureaucratic decisions before being discharged or returned to active duty.
They suffer from brain injuries, severed arms and legs, organ and back damage, and various degrees of post-traumatic stress. Their legions have grown so exponentially — they outnumber hospital patients at Walter Reed 17 to 1 — that they take up every available bed on post and spill into dozens of nearby hotels and apartments leased by the Army. The average stay is 10 months, but some have been stuck there for as long as two years.
*****
But keep shining up those “support our troop” magnets, RePukes. As long as you don’t have to pay for it with taxes, you don’t give a s***.
Love that rude pundit site!
Coulter, cuntish lol.
I don’t know if any of you would be interest in this bill, but I’ll go ahead and post this information for you anyway.
Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) recently introduced H.R. 654 – the Export Freedom to Cuba Act of 2007 – which states, “the President shall not regulate or prohibit, directly or indirectly, travel to or from Cuba by United States citizens or legal residents, or any of the transactions incident to such travel.
Capn, isn’t this outragous.
The reporter who exposed this story was on Imus in the morning. Everone is upset about the father who lost an eye. It made her wept. His little boy was hugging him, while this man was expressing his circumstance, during his stay at Walter Reed. He said the surgeons operated on his eye and brain and then the staff placed him in building 18 (with the roaches and rats) and they didn’t call for weeks, to see how he was doing. No one checked on his case, until he called his caseworker.
The reporter said, the marine had to leave the restaurant because he became very angry, while re-telling his story to the reporter.
Lynn Chaney is a fan of Imus so hopefully the Cheneys’ heard the radio on the way into work.
In the two days this story has been on the news, they hired an army staff to quickly fix the buildings–but the damage is done. No one believes these magnet carrying supporters anymore.
BREAKING NEWS
NBC reports that Tony Blair will shortly announce plans for total withdrawl of British troops from Iraq.
Hey he only already threw away his political career supporting bush this long.
Why is the story about the Walter Reed Army Hospital the fault of Republicans?
That doesn’t make a bit of sense.
Evidently someone on this blog has never been treated for an injury in an GP medium tent next to a land fill. :)
Just wondering if any of you saw the mayoral candidate forum tonight…
Thanks, Platy–this is an outrage. I’m glad that something is finally getting done about it.
Roscoe–why is the Republicans problem? Because YOU started a war without regard for the effects of that war . . . without the support of the soldiers who would be injured in that war.
Hell, YOU won’t even pay for it with higher taxes.
YOU and people like you are entirely responsible for the bad way our troops are being treated when they don’t get the medical care they need.
without the support FOR the soldiers, I meant to say, although you’re rapidly losing the support OF the soldiers as well apparently . . .