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- There's a crazy trial going on in Waco where a lady is alleged to have shot her husband in the head, gone to work, and then came home and called the police. Oh, and she's also accused of trying to hire a hitman to kill him (before he was dead, of course.) Local connection? Bridgeport's Mike Simpson has a daughter who is part of the defense team.
- I dreamed I lived right by a busy freeway and saw, at least twice, a bachelorette party on foot walking behind a cement mixer covered in banners.
- There's a cold front coming in with 40 degree temperatures which will hit almost exactly the same time as the White Rock Marathon starts. This will be my 10th half marathon and there's no way I'm going to miss it.
- Obama's re-election chances are all based on the economy? That right wing explosion you just heard was the news released this morning that the unemployment rate had plunged to 8.6%! That's the lowest rate in 2 1/2 years.
- I'd like to announce that there's a shortage of plastic lawn stakes for Christmas lights. I've got a project half done and I can't find those things anywhere. (I had some Clark Griswald going on last night, by the way.)
- Liberally Lean favorite Britney turns 30 today. Sad to say, but I may have to upgrade in that position.
- Tons of folks have sent me the story over the past couple of days regarding "Sheriff Incarcerated In Jail That Bears His Name". I'm not sure why I haven't posted it.
- We put the tree up but before we could put a single decoration on it, the Family Cat buried herself inside it. She was apparently bored with trying to claw a hole in the strong cardboard box it was packaged in.
- There's a commercial for Academy Sports that features Emmitt Smith and Danica Patrick. With her being a diva and him having trouble delivering any line, I bet that thirty second spot took a month to film.
- An appellate case decided this year involved a guy who won over $10 million in the lottery in the 1990s and got divorced in Wise County shortly thereafter. (You'll have to interested in assignments and child support offsets to read the whole thing. But I'll bet you click on it to see if you know the guy.)
- Long suffering Baylor fans will love this article that appeared yesterday in ESPN's Grantland.
- "Students [at Fort Worth ISD] will not be allowed to exchange gifts from student to student or distribute personal holiday messages during class this year, the district said . . . . [O]fficials announced Thursday that 'no longer can the district endorse or sponsor any religious activity or doctrine.'" Those who will comment that "there ain't no separation of church and state in the constitution" in three, two, . . .
75 comments:
The only reason the unemployment rate dropped was because 300,000 who were on unemployment, dropped out because they never found a job and the benefits ran out. Gave up looking.
Schools have become weak. There are certain guidelines they have to follow about observing religions, but instead of embraces everyone's beliefs they take the "hands off" approach.
This is what happens when schools and government try to mettle too much and parents don't take responsibility for their children's education.
On the economy -- Good news is good news. I'm for it if America benefits. (But I did notice a shortage of "As the economy goes, so go Obama's chances" posts when the news was crappy.)
On banning Christmas in schools -- Here's Liberalism in action. Instead of saying "In addition to Christmas, students can also celebrate Kwanzaa and Hanukkah," they banned all holiday celebration. So now they have the result they wanted -- everyone is equally miserable. That's Liberalism in a nutshell.
At 30 and 2 kids, I think Britney is still a fine specimen of a lady.
An interesting sidenote to the 8.6% unemployment figure was the government's decision to drop over 300,000 people from the unemployment figures because they are "no longer looking for a job". Gee, that really helps the economy.
You couldn't have cropped out the girl on the far right?
And where do you stop wordkyle? Do Wicans gets equal treatment?
I would imagine the ban on gift giving arose over excessive gifts by a few parents and the grief it caused in the classromm at reveal time.
I remember tears even on Valentine day caused by a few excesses.
Celebrate your religion at home! Invite who you want, give what you want etc. Impress who you want.
Not to mention, instructional time being interrupted!
Your pic of the day reminds me of Meatloaf's song, "2 out of 3 ain't bad!"
My wife is a teacher in the FTW ISD. She had me read this e-mail the other day when she got it. How ridiculous!
They have gone from one extreme to the complete other without even stopping anywhere in between.
@ 8:42 and 9:02:
I've been telling Barry that repeatedly on this site for at least six months, but that kind of logic is lost on him. He's just grasping at straws for anything that will help re-elect Obama.
Never mind the fact that it's the holidays and there are going to be A LOT of temporary jobs between now and Dec. 31.
Odd how they can not endorse or sponsor any religious activity or doctrine, but gladly take a 2 week paid vacation for Christmas, a week for Thanksgiving, a week in the spring that usually coincides with Easter, and a day off in January to recognize "Reverend" Martin Luther King.
Taxes are going up after Jan. 1. so you can expect that situation to have a negative impact on the economy and very likely increase unemployment.
And who knows how dramatic an effect this job-killing health care law is going to have on the unemployment rate.
Somebody's gonna have to play wingman! First one drunk gets the girl on the right!
Did I not tell you weenies yesterday that they are trying to remove Christmas from schools?
I'll take the fatty on the right. She'll put in more effort, no doubt! ♫
DF Chubby-Chaser
A 5 per cent unemployment rate under Bush was being reported as near depression levels and a 9 per cent rate under Obammy is being reported as just a recession.
Refer to 9:16 - celebrate your religion outside of schools all you like. Don't take instruction time for gift exchanges. Don't embarrass those who don't want or get gifts. And remember, if they would allow Christian activities, they'd have to allow all the others. Come on - schools are for learning; homes and churches are for religion.
AnnCoulter.com is a must read today. Except for liberal weenies because your head will explode.
9:31 -- I am so tired of ignorant people saying teachers get ANY paid holidays or vacations! They do not! And believe me the teachers did not make this decision in FTW ISD. Try blaming administrators or lawyers trying to avoid lawsuits by some people who have a chip on their shoulders looking for a reason to yell UNFAIR!
916 - I would "imagine" that school administrators are evicting religion because an ACLU lawsuit would cost the schools a fortune. Better that no one gets to celebrate, right? Meanwhile, school children are singing songs praising Obama. It appears that we've simply replaced the old religion with a new one.
I'm a Tech fan, but I'm happy for Baylor's success. Several years ago there was a Lubbock cartoonist named Dirk Wewst who had a running series about Southwest Conference sports with all the mascots. Baylor's bear always had a tear in his eye. If Dirk were alive and still drawing today, Baylor's bear might have a tear of happiness. Enjoy this while you got it Baylor fans
The banning of Christmas in schools is just one more reason why I believe the public school system will become obsolete in the future. Parents/Teachers and even administrators are so tired of jumping on the state's bandwagon of TESTING and now of purchasing materials from companies who are making money hands down each time a new test is announced, that they are beginning to consider jobs in the private schools where that testing mess does not exist. Private schools can also observe and celebrate what holidays they so choose. The state is killing our public education system! I, for one, am actually ready to see the fall of the PSS! I'm rather tired of them telling me how to raise my child. Would love to see more and more private schools emerge. Telling my kid that they cannot pray or say Merry Christmas in their school is just NOT the American way!
That is all it is. The schools have no backing from their parent (i.e. government). they do not want the legal issues.
To the people who say, "school is for learning, not religion", then you might as well keep your beliefs to yourself while at work. It is the same-thing. I am sure glad everyone typing on these comments are at home so they can express their faith and political agendas freely.
Read the article folks. Students will still be able to exchange gifts and cards, but must do so before school, after school, or during lunch.
10:31 - Do teachers have their pay reduced by one week in March for Spring Break? Are teachers paid less in December since they only work two or three weeks? Now, ask the same question about the custodians or other hourly employees.
Teachers absolutely have paid holidays.
Fiona's cardboard cut out needs a new publicist.
9:31 so true and funny
all the vacations are religious holidays
In Louisiana they get out for Mardi Gras... a catholic holiday
10:31.... get a clue... had nothing to do with teachers getting a "paid" vacation... it's about the religious holiday... get the chip off your shoulder
Aren't school teachers paid a salary? $XX,XXX per school year? Isn't that whatever number of days that the State determines is the school year?
If so, there's no such thing as a paid holiday. It's a salary for showing up and working on days the school is in session. If it's a school hoiday, there's no school. Ergo, not a paid holiday b/c it's not a day that's included in the State's determination of the school year.
Right?
11:42 -
Teachers are paid for a certain number of days. That is stated in their contract. That is also the number of class days required by the state. Therefore, holidays and vacation days are not included.
Don't embarrass those who don't want or get gifts.
If you don't want gifts then you shouldn't have a problem with anyone who does.
If your child wants them and isn't getting them you should have taught your child to be a better person so others will like them.
9:31 Agreed!!!!
When did Santa become a religious icon?
12:03 Funny that those "times off" fall during holidays.
Knock Knock
A Wise County court ordered $2,250.00 a month Child Support & a $10,000 yearly bonus payment?
That's not child support. That's extortion.
11:42 You are totally ignorant about how teachers are contracted and paid. Please go to your local school and ask to see a school calendar for that school year. Then count the number of days school is in session. (Usually a school calendar will have that posted.) The ususal contracted work days for teachers is 187. 177 of those is with students. The other ten days comprises the inservice training and work days that teachers much attend while students do not. You will notice that the days the school releases for whatever reasons, (holidays, spring break, summer ) are NOT included in the 187 days. Teachers begin a contracted job and they conclude the job two months before they recieve full payment for it. Would you contract a builder to do work on your home and expect him to give you two months AFTER he concludes his work to finish paying him? Won't happpen. Hope I've helped you enough that you won't make such assinine comments about teachers getting paid vacations!
The one in the pink outfit has got to be a decoy for the other 2
WARREN IS A WORM!!!!
POOR KIDS HAVING A FATHER LIKE HIM!
WHY IS IT MEN ONLY THINK WITH THEIR MONEY INSTEAD OF THEIR HEART, WHICH IS WHAT GOD IS GONNA WEIGH?
11:42 - incorrect
12:03 - correct
Their contract is for the number of days the state says the public school is in session. Their salary is divided by 12 months. So, they are NOT receiving any paid holidays. They are getting days off without pay. But, that is not the real point of contention here. The point is banning Christmas in Ft Worth ISD. I watched the noon news and sure enough: as stated before its due to possible lawsuits and not using instructional time. You know, all instructional time must be used for testing and the practicing of tests! Looks like your state lawmakers are the most to blame if you are going to play the Blame Game; not teachers!
Hey 10:31, 12:02, 12:03, and the rest of you overworked, underpaid teachers that are reading this instead of earning my tax dollars I'm paying you to babysit my kids today (one of those days you are paid by contract to work). If you can find a job that requires you to show up less that 180 days a year for the same or more money, then more power to you.
It is not hard to see what the teachers are doing instead of teaching and where America's sense of entitlement has come from.
12:33 10 million while married with two kids, 2250. monthly child support isn't extortion but greed on the fathers part for not paying!
Sad, now Corporations are ending up with a childs support. If the father was bought out the funds should have been carved out of his early monies, for early support also.
11:42---NO! we do not get paid for those days! We are paid for a certain number of days, yes. Yes, our paychecks are the same all year. Easy math: daily rate of pay X number of days worked / by 12months. No more, no less each month. This DOES NOT equal paid holidays!
If a teacher makes $35,000/year and works 187 days, that teacher makes $187/work day. If that same teacher had to work 5 days/week (260 days/year like most everybody else) he or she would make $48,660/year.
Almost $50,000/year is not a bad salary. Shut up and do your job...teach!
For those of you who think a gift exchange is taking instructional time, go to a school without a "Christmas party" at 1:00 on the day they release for "winter break". See how much instruction is going on anyway!
BTW---those of you who think schools SHOULD ban these parties, be sure you don't do ANYTHING at your job (and on company time) to acknowledge the holiday!
Oh, since the majority of our state lawmakers are Republicans, then they are the Liberal Weenies who put the marathon testing and no Christmas in public schools into effect.
12:52- No one said a word about teacher salaries but you. The discussion was about someone repeating the falsehood that teachers receive paid holidays. and not celebrating Christmas in public schools!
You mentioned the other day that there would be appearances by Santa in two places at the same time. How about three(!) in the same place?
From today's S-T:
Arlington - Families will again get their choice of an Anglo, African-American or Hispanic Santa CLaus on Saturday at the Arlington animal shelter. The event will be at the Arlington Animal Services Center
Forget about the minor 2012 disaster prophecy. The rise of this troika of multi-ethnic Kris Kringles will surely rip a hole in the space-time continuum and send us all flying into a parallel dimension!
Triple Fake Nostradamus Claus
What? No mention of the Baylor/Texas game tomorrow? I don't know how Texas is still in the top 25. They definitely get some favoritism when it comes to the polls. 7-4 overall and 4-4 in conference.
1:08 So the paychecks teachers receive do not reflect the dates that you are not in school on the stub?
For instance, December's paycheck only has the dates referenced that you are in school. The paycheck would not reference 12/1/11 - 12/31/11 as the pay period it would be something like 12/1/11 - 12/23/11.
Another question. Do you receive the same amount every month? Is the December paycheck the same as a full working month?
Do teachers receive a paycheck every month of the year?
What is the salary, yearly for a WC teacher?
9:16 Your ignorance is blatantly obvious in your statement regarding instructional time. I have seriously looked into either private school or home school for my kids due to the fact that there is very little actually learning that takes place in our schools.
As for those teachers who whine about their pay, benefits, and time worked, I am sick of hearing about it. I understand you think you deserve a 100K+ salary. I understand that at times your job is tough and stressful. I understand that sometimes your bosses suck. Welcome to the workforce. Everyone who works think that sometimes their bosses suck, or their job is stressful, or that they are underpaid. It's life. If you don't like your job move on. That's what everyone else has to do, their job or move on. It's a grown up decision that you have to make but stop griping about it. I could gripe all day long about my pay, hours, missed birthdays/holidays/family events I have missed and the highly stressful situations i am put in all the time, but I chose my profession knowing the pitfalls. Please, stop the BS whining!
@1:30 - Many districts allow the teacher to choose whether they want to receive their yearly salary over 12 months or 10.
There is no way it costs $2250 a month to support a child. There are whole families surviving on that. Before you start crying about the kids deserving it, why does the law not require that it be spent on the children? That money is for whatever the Mom wants to spend it on. If she blows every penny there isn't a thing you can do about it.
It's not "child support", it's extortion. Make it a law where Mom must show where she spent the money on the kids and put the remainder in a college fund and then I'll have no problem with "child support".
Teachers are paid what's called a SALARY, a fixed compensation for services, paid to a person on a regular basis.
You teachers can twist it all you want but, you are paid whether you are there or not if you're paid a certain salary per year.
I'm a salary employee in the private sector and I'm paid for the days I'm here and the ones I'm not no matter what. My paychecks reflect the weekly pay period I am paid. If teachers are paid monthly the paycheck reflects the total month on it.
How could a teacher not know this?
1:35 Thank you.
Terrible logic by the teachers. By that rational the only people who truly get paid vacations or paid holidays are straight hourly workers who get hours added to their check for vacation days.
If my employer gives me three weeks of vacation, she knows that she is only paying me for 245 work days.
Good grief! I don't believe any of the teachers who are explaining how they are paid are whining! They are trying to educate you morons who either won't or just don't understand how they are contracted/paid. You show more of your stupidity, when you realize you were wrong in saying they were paid for holidays and all those days off, by insisting that they are now whining about their jobs! Jesus Christ! Who is whining? Teachers are paid for 187 days. Teacher pay, these days, is not terrible, in fact it is pretty good. There is not a better job for a mother or father to have and still have family time. Yeah...teachers chose well when they chose to teach! You other folks who work all year are the ones who need to stop whining that you have to work all year. YOU CHOSE TO DO THAT!!!
Those of you complaining about schools and/or teachers - you're getting about what you pay for. Students in the Education field are some of the lowest testing students in colleges. That's partly because the more competent students choose more difficult courses of study - that are higher paying. If you want much better teachers, you're going to have to pay more for the higher quality students. But I know you don't want to pay taxes so you get teachers of mixed quality willing to work for lower wages.
1:57, teachers are paid for the 187 days they work!! That pay is stretched over the 12 months! What is so dang hard about understanding that?
1:45, I don't know of a school in Wise County that gives the teacher that choice. All I know of pay once a month (12) payments.
No, actually you guys are wrong. Teachers sign a CONTRACT. That contract specifies a salary amount that will be paid for working x number of days. Those number of days are then added up to a lump sum and teachers are given the option of either having that divided into 10 or 12 paychecks to be received.
The actual working schedule specifies the days they are contractually paid to work. They aren't paid for holidays. Their work schedule (The school admin calender) is usually posted on each ISD's website.
All you whiners about public education are free to take your little Johnny and Susie's to whatever private school you wanna pony up for. Or you are welcome to join a PTO or volunteer in your kids education in some other fashion.
Or just sit back and be an internets blog hero and pi$$ about it all the time... and doing nothing.
Said it before and I will say it again; for every bad teacher story you want to tell I will tell you five bad parent stories. And I ain't even a teacher.
1:28----pay period and days worked ae NOT the same. One is an accounting period. Has nothing to do with the amount of time worked.
Let me spell it out where maybe you can understand. Teachers typically work 187 days a year. If a teacher makes $40,000 a year, that's $213 a day. Has nothing to do with how the days fall in what months. MOST schools do not have equal number of days in each semester, but it DOES NOT MATTER! You are still paid by the number of days! Whether you get paid once a year or 12 times a year, your salary does not change. I'd recommmed you take time to have a school employee explain this to you on paper. Oh, geeze, I know! Maybe a TEACHER can teach it to you! Perhaps a remedial class.
Lets just do away with teachers. Rhome and New Fairview need more trailer houses.
11:56
Mardi Gras is not a Catholic holiday. Ash Wednesday, the day AFTER Mardi Gras, is a Holy Day of Obligation for all Catholics world wide.
Mardi Gras, meaning roughly "fat Tuesday", is the day BEFORE the season of Lent which begins in the Catholic church on Ash Wednesday.
Lent is a season of prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial that lasts for 40 days and ends with the Easter celebration. The 40 days comes from the new testament stories of Jesus spending 40 days and nights in the desert all by himself.
So basically, you party your butt off on Tuesday, because after that, its sacrifices and self-denial for the next 40 days.
Double Fake Pope Benedict XVI
2:58 you cannot be that stupid.
Wow, the teacher pay argument escalated quickly. I mean, that really got out of hand fast. Brick killed a guy.
Christmas has been celebrated since 1776 in schools throughout America and now some ass decides that it is wrong. It was celebrated in the schools by the children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc. of the founding fathers and the framers of the Constitution. Now some liberal wants to change the customs and culture of America.
Great Odin's ravin Wordkyle, that really jumped up a notch, didn't it? Brick killed that guy with a trident.
1:48 You just don't get it and have obiously never had to foot the bill to raise children? Utilities, clothes, doctors, haircuts, oh wait your probably trailer trash...
Funny, no teachers posting after 3:30 pm. They will only waste taxpayer's time, not their own.
5:27 I have indeed. That's why I said an entire family can and do survive off $2250 a month. You've obviously never been to Frilly's, Bono's or Northside on a Friday or Saturday night. Trust me there's a lot of "child support" being spent.
Child support is a paycheck for squirting out kids, not money to feed, clothe, care and educate them. But there should be a law that is.
5:27 I agree, a family can survive, but Warren won the lottery (10 million) so I don't think 2250. a month is too much nor putting back for their education. Their his kids. I'm sure he is party animal possibly with his millions. Maybe the mom he dumped can stay at home and give these kids quality time, after paying auto ins. utilities, medical insurance, gas, clothes, maintenance on their home... without tax payers having to foot the bill.
You sound bitter and besides he didn't pay anyway, so I'm sure the mom doesn't have time to party financially but I hope she does have the time to have fun at least once a week.
God Bless you and your stinkin thinkin.
5:31
Sorry I haven't posted before. During the week, from 7:30-4:00, I'm busy doing my job. I come here on the weekends.
Gotta tell you-I am disturbed if some of these people posting are actual, current teachers who are reading a blog/posting during the day. I really would like to know where they find the time!
I would LOVE to be paid 100K a year to do my job-but I'm fine with the 50K I am paid. And I love the way the pay is structured-187 days paid over 12 months. But one correction to someone-I don't know any district that still allows teachers to choose 10 or 12 month options.
I wake up every morning loving my job-but that's because I work in a school where the administrators have brains. We don't drill and kill for testing (we're Exemplary), and we have Christmas (and other religious symbols of the season) decorations in the hallways.
Most of that is because the parents in our school feeder pattern would not tolerate the nonsense that happens in some other places.
If your kids attend a school that has policies you don't like, get a group together, make a list of suggestions for making things better, and get to work making changes.
Gritching on a blog isn't going to do a darn thing to improve anything.
I bought up the green lawn stakes in Lowes on Wednesday, and I hadn't even put them out.
Double Fake Griswold
7:29 sounds like he's hitting some frillys action on Friday night! Hope he's wearing a condom!
You can make your own light holder stakes out of wire hangers, it's easy and free.
Looks like LOTS of people only post on here (not just a couple of teachers-in fact, fewer teachers than anyone else) while they're at work!
Hmmm...I wonder how all of your employers feel about that?
As for teachers-all of their web traffic is automatically tracked while using an ISD network. If you're a teacher and an administrator decides he/she wants you gone-your shopping, reading/posting on a blog is a violation of the terms of use policy you signed. You've HANDED them your ticket out the door...
10:16, thank goodness for smart phones.
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