http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/17/seclusion.rooms/index.html
This is a story on CNN about a special needs boy who hung himself after being put into seclusion in a school in Georgia. While the story is interesting, it's the comments that I find fascinating. There seem to be basically two groups of people commenting on the story:
1) Send the teachers to jail! TORTURE! Inhuman! Our education system is evil!
or
2) Teachers are equipped to deal with highly special needs students plus the twenty four other students in their classrooms. Often, students are forced by either the school or the parents into "normal" classrooms when it's not to their benefit and even to the detriment to the other students in the class. The education system is broken!
Well, glad they can agree on something. But I really think every adult should spend some time in a modern day public school classroom. It's amazing at all the shit teachers go throug, some of it because of NCLB or the admistration, other times because of parents. Frickin' saints, most teachers are.
The Peanut Gallery
WTF?
So, I got an email from MoveOn.org that was simply appalling. Earlier I talked about how a friend joined the Facebook group "The Pill Kills"... well, now it seems the government is taking that same logic. The email in its entirety: Can you imagine living in a place where birth control is considered an "abortion" and health insurers won't cover it? Where even rape victims are denied emergency contraception? It seems unbelievable, but the Bush Administration is quietly trying to redefine "abortion" to include birth control. The Houston Chronicle says this could wipe out dozens of state laws that protect women's reproductive freedom and protect rape victims.1 Access to basic health care for millions of women would be jeopardized. And it's being pushed as a "rule change"—meaning, it doesn't need congressional approval. Can you sign an emergency message to Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, whose department is considering this rule change right now? Tell him: "Contraception is NOT abortion. The Bush Administration's proposal to change the definition of abortion and reduce women's access to birth control must be stopped." Clicking here will add your name to this message: The best way to beat back this proposal is to show Secretary Leavitt massive public outrage—that's why today we're launching this petition jointly with Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Together, we'll deliver every signature to Leavitt. You can help add to our momentum by forwarding this message to friends. Here's what some others are saying about this proposal: The administration needs to stop playing word games with women's health and state clearly they will reject any regulations that will undermine women's access to basic health care.—Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.4 [It's] a spectacular act of complicity with the religious right... —RH Reality Check, Information and Analysis for Reproductive Health5 Can you help send a loud message to Secretary Leavitt that birth control is NOT abortion? Clicking here will sign your name: Thanks for all you do. –Nita, Laura, Patrick S., Adam G., and the rest of the team Sources: 1. "Redefining abortion; Federal officials considering a rule allowing health care workers to refuse to provide contraceptives," Houston Chronicle, August 10, 2008 2. Letter to Secretary Mike Leavitt from Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and 26 other senators, July 23, 2008 3. "Redefining abortion; Federal officials considering a rule allowing health care workers to refuse to provide contraceptives," Houston Chronicle editorial, August 10, 2008 4. "Birth control: is administration backing down—or not?" Los Angeles Times blog, August 8, 2008 5. "HHS Moves to Define Contraception as Abortion," RH Reality Check, July 15, 2008 6. "White House Considering Contraception Restrictions," Public News Service, August 11, 2008
Dear MoveOn member,
http://pol.moveon.org/
The draft rule could void laws in 27 states that require insurance companies to provide birth control coverage for women requesting it [and] laws in 14 states requiring that rape victims receive counseling and access to emergency, day-after contraceptives.—Houston Chronicle editorial3
http://pol.moveon.org/
http://www.chron.com/disp/
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=
http://www.chron.com/disp/
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=
Dude, just take up golfing or something...
Ok, I'm going to do something that's totally not me. I'm going to blog about... football.
I can't help it. I feel like I'm observing a scientific study on sports obsession, coming to Wisconsin after living in Washington for 20+ years. In my experience, Washington football fans cheer the Seahawks at their games, are pleased when they do well, and generally just forget about the team when they're having an off year. That is so not the case in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin, on the whole, has this bizarre obsession with the Packers. People will sell their soul for season tickets (and probably their firstborn too.) So, it was big news earlier this year when Brett Favre announced his retirement. The quarterback HIMSELF announced his own retirement. That fact will be important later. Less than a day later, they were selling Brett Favre memorabilia "The Career of a Legend" and stuff like that. Sports Illustrated put out a special Brett Favre issue about his whole career (I know because every store in the area had about 2,000 copies each--they must have printed two issues for each person who lives in Wisconsin.) Anyway, there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth, but eventually, the cheeseheads got over it, celebrated his career, and then made predictions on how Favre's replacement, Aaron Rodgers, would do in the coming season.
And today... today every news outlet is reporting that Favre asked the Green Bay Packers to release him from his contract. Wait... hold on. Why would he do that if he was retired? Turns out, he asked the Packers if he could come back, they were like "Uh... dude, you said you were retiring. We built this year's team on the idea you wouldn't be back. So, uh... no. Stay retired." Evidently, Favre didn't like this, and wants to be released so he can seek out other teams to play for this year.
So, know Packers fans appear to be split. The majority support the Packers brass for having the balls to tell Favre to stay retired. A very very vocal minority are yelling about how Favre is bigger than the Packers and they should bow to his every whim.
To me, this is all very fascinating. I mean, the dude is thirty eight years old. Even if he comes out of retirement, he only has a few more years. Also, from what I've read in the news stories today, he's pulled the "Will I retire or won't I" stunt for a few years now, he made it "official" this spring, and is now trying to pull out of retirement already. But dude... just take your vast stockpile of money, buy a country club membership, maybe a sailboat, and retire like normal people do. Well, normal people who are twice your age. Go into broadcasting, go into coaching. Just stop looking like a pathetic old (for football) man who thinks he's still shit hot (I actually don't know if he is shit hot or not... I have no idea, I don't follow the Packers.)
Anyway, from my outside perspective, this is an interesting turning point for Packer's fans. Do they prove themselves cheeseheads for life and support the Packers brass, or do they prove themselves Favre-heads and wail about how one man is more important than the whole rest of the team combined. Really, my only personal interest in this is to not have to see 2,000 more copies of "Favre Retires" Sports Illustrated in my local grocery stores next year too.
Hmm...
McCain says he can't stop outside groups from attacking Obama yet somehow Obama stopped groups like Progressive Media from running attack ads on McCain.
Also, I think the dregs of society are the ones who post comments on political news stories. They give me eye twitches. I always appreciate a well thought out comment, no matter what candidate they support--I might disagree, but I appreciate the thought they put into their comment. Saying stuff like "Obama apparently does not believe in free speech, just dictatorial control" in response to him asking groups not to run attack ads just shows you jump to the far end of whatever conclusion you instantly reach.
Also, saying you love Clinton and agree with her on her positions, but are going to vote for McCain just shows that you are a voter led by passion instead of reason. Hello, there are very few differences in policy between Obama and Clinton.
Obama: Pro-Choice
Clinton: Pro-Choice
McCain: Anti-Abortion
Obama: Wants to increase gun control
Clinton: Wants tougher gun control
McCain: Opposes increased gun control
Obama: Voted against Iraq war, wants troop withdrawal
Clinton: Voted for Iraq war, but says she wishes she hadn't, wants to put limit on troops in Iraq
McCain: Voted for Iraq war, wants to send more troops
Obama: Opposes privatization of Social Security
Clinton: Opposes privatization of Social Security
McCain: Supports privatization of Social Security
How can you be both a Clinton and McCain supporter? Only if you don't care about the issues, I suppose.
Bah.
I think freedom from religion is more important than freedom of religion. Mainly based on cases like this.
Letting your 15-month old baby die from treatable pneumonia is not religious freedom. When there are two young people dead in one family in the last 4 months because of unwillingness to treat illness, that's criminal. Ok, faith healing families--it's pretty obvious prayer doesn't work like that. Maybe... just maybe... your prayers for a healthy child would have been answered if you GOT OFF YOUR ASSES AND TOOK YOUR KID TO THE DOCTOR.
RE: Toplessness Post
Here is a link to a story the AP is running about a woman in Oregon exercising her right to be topless.
And Yet They Complain...
about not being able to find (and keep!) qualified teachers:
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=710766
This is honestly one of the dumbest things I have ever read about education.
He loves his job.
The kids love him.
And they're firing him.
Fun Fact: I live in the same ZIP code he does, only in the Milwaukee part.
Suck It, Sony
From The Wall Street Journal:
The Wii finished the year as the top-selling console, with nearly 6.3 million units sold domestically. That compares to 4.6 million units for the Xbox 360 and nearly 2.6 million units for the PS3 for the year, according to NPD data.
Among handheld devices, the Nintendo DS fared even better, with 8.5 million in sales for the year compared to 3.8 million for the Sony PSP.
I have no idea why I take such joy in seeing Sony decimated, but I do.
The Decline of Civilization
This was the most heartbreaking photo of the Vietnam War. It won a Pultizer Prize. It captured the absolute horror that is war. It showed the evils of napalm. It was taken by photographer Nick Ut. You know what he's doing lately?
Yes, the photograph of Paris Hilton crying, a photo that shot through the glass of a car, was taken by the same Nick Ut.
So, he went from taking photographs that made people stand up and sasy "End this war!" to taking photographs of rich young women in horrible situations. *sigh*
Gogo Packers fans...
I know that not all Packers fans are like this... but you never see child abuse over sports in the Northwest. At least, not anything that I've seen reported.
From the Journal Sentinal:
Charge: Dad made son wear Packers jersey
Portage - A 36-year-old man tied up his young son with tape for an hour after the boy refused to wear a Green Bay Packers jersey during the team's game on Saturday, local authorities said.Mathew Kowald, 36, was cited for disorderly conduct in connection with the incident with his 7-year-old son at their home in Pardeeville, Lt. Wayne Smith of the Columbia County Sheriff's Department said. Pardeeville is about 30 miles north of Madison.Kowald was arrested on Monday after the boy's mother, Kowald's wife, told authorities about the incident. Kowald was taken to the county jail and held until Wednesday, when he pleaded no contest, paid a fine of $186 and was released.Kowald's wife filed a restraining order on Wednesday, so Kowald will not be able to have contact with his family, Smith said. Smith said other domestic issues have surfaced, though he wouldn't elaborate.The boy refused to wear the jersey on Saturday, when the Packers beat the Seattle Seahawks in a playoff game, Smith said. The father was accused of restraining the boy for an hour with tape and also taped a jersey onto him during that time.Smith said the incident sounded strange when reported at first, but the mother took pictures with her cell phone and that type of evidence is difficult to dispute.The boy's refusal to wear the jersey may have just been rebellion, he said."We've been unable to uncover any evidence to suggest that this boy was not a Packers fan," Smith said.
Dr. Tom?
Wow. Tom Cruise has been quoted as saying that Scientologists are "authorities on the mind."
Gee, Tom. I thought neuoroligsts were.
Poor Pluto...
I was reading an FAQ about the MESSENGER, the spacecraft currently buzzing by Mercury right now, and I got a little sad...
"9. How big is Mercury?
Mercury’s diameter is 4,880 kilometers (3,032 miles), roughly 38 percent of Earth’s diameter. Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system. For comparison: If Earth were the size of a baseball, Mercury would be the size of a golf ball." (emphasis added.)
It was weird seeing Mercury mentioned as the smallest planet. Don't worry Pluto, you'll always be the 9th planet to me.