Homercles: Space Monkey Man of Tomorrow
Tuesday, March 30, 2004
I think the scale lies
At least, that's the excuse I'm going with. Oh well. Time to finish watching WWE from last night (VCRs: the original Tivo!), and then bed.
Mar 29
Cardio
Time: 0:55:00
2004 Total: 56:01:00
Weights + Cardio: 66 Days (90 to go)
Mar 30
Cardio
Time: 1:06:00
2004 Total:57:07:00
Weights + Cardio: 67 Days (89 to go)
Mar 29
Cardio
Time: 0:55:00
2004 Total: 56:01:00
Weights + Cardio: 66 Days (90 to go)
Mar 30
Cardio
Time: 1:06:00
2004 Total:57:07:00
Weights + Cardio: 67 Days (89 to go)
Sunday, March 28, 2004
*sigh* Turn out the lights, the party's over
Or, at least, vacation is. It was nice to have the time off, and I got a lot of things done. Also, I got around to listening to the commentary tracks on some of my DVD's.
House on Haunted Hill: Dry, dry, dry, with lots of empty spaces between comments. Also, the director basically repeated all of the things he said in the "making-of" documentary.
Evil Dead 2: Fun commentary. Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell are the horror equivalent of Kevin Smith And co, commentary-wise.
Star Wars: Episode II: I think I understand now why Lucas won't release the original, unaltered trilogy on DVD. Throughout this commentary, there are references to how they would use CG to tweak live action shots, like how some of the scenes with Anakin and Padme are composites, with Hayden Christensen's performance in one take digitally mixed in with Natalie Portman's performance in another take.
See, to us, the drooling fanboys and girls, each of the films are whole entities; change one thing, and the whole is changed. To Lucas, I think it's all just parts, interchangeable until he sees exactly what he imagined. I don't like it one bit, but I understand it.
And could someone please tell Lucas that endless scenes with broken or lost lightsabers do not constitute a recurring theme. Anakin's strained father/son relationship with Obi-Wan Kenobi, now that's a theme. Broken lightsabers, well that's just repetition.
Mar 28
Cardio
Time: 1:03:00
2004 Total: 55:06:00
Weights + Cardio:65 Days (91 to go)
House on Haunted Hill: Dry, dry, dry, with lots of empty spaces between comments. Also, the director basically repeated all of the things he said in the "making-of" documentary.
Evil Dead 2: Fun commentary. Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell are the horror equivalent of Kevin Smith And co, commentary-wise.
Star Wars: Episode II: I think I understand now why Lucas won't release the original, unaltered trilogy on DVD. Throughout this commentary, there are references to how they would use CG to tweak live action shots, like how some of the scenes with Anakin and Padme are composites, with Hayden Christensen's performance in one take digitally mixed in with Natalie Portman's performance in another take.
See, to us, the drooling fanboys and girls, each of the films are whole entities; change one thing, and the whole is changed. To Lucas, I think it's all just parts, interchangeable until he sees exactly what he imagined. I don't like it one bit, but I understand it.
And could someone please tell Lucas that endless scenes with broken or lost lightsabers do not constitute a recurring theme. Anakin's strained father/son relationship with Obi-Wan Kenobi, now that's a theme. Broken lightsabers, well that's just repetition.
Mar 28
Cardio
Time: 1:03:00
2004 Total: 55:06:00
Weights + Cardio:65 Days (91 to go)
Saturday, March 27, 2004
Somehow I'm not surprised
A French lawyer has agreed to represent Saddam Hussein. No doubt wanting to rub elbows with a higher class of person.
Mar 26
Cardio
Time: 0:57:00
2004 Total: 53:00
Weights + Cardio: 63 Days (93 to go)
Mar 27
Cardio
Time:1:03:00
2004 Total: 54:03:00
Weights+ Cardio: 64 Days (92 to go)
Mar 26
Cardio
Time: 0:57:00
2004 Total: 53:00
Weights + Cardio: 63 Days (93 to go)
Mar 27
Cardio
Time:1:03:00
2004 Total: 54:03:00
Weights+ Cardio: 64 Days (92 to go)
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
Helpful household hints
To figure out how long a home improvement project will take, use the following formula:
Let x = how long you think it will take.
Multiply x by 4.
Add in 2 hours for extra trips to the hardware store.
Oy Vey.
Mar 23
Cardio
Time:0:52:00
2004 Total: 52:03:00
Weights + Cardio: 62 Days (94 to go)
Let x = how long you think it will take.
Multiply x by 4.
Add in 2 hours for extra trips to the hardware store.
Oy Vey.
Mar 23
Cardio
Time:0:52:00
2004 Total: 52:03:00
Weights + Cardio: 62 Days (94 to go)
Monday, March 22, 2004
Cautiously Optimistic
The elliptical worked alright. Considering I'm the one who fixed it, however, I'm sure it will soon break down in short order.
Mar 22
Cardio
Time:1:00:00
2004 Total: 51:11:00
Weights + Cardio: 61 Days (95 to go)
Mar 22
Cardio
Time:1:00:00
2004 Total: 51:11:00
Weights + Cardio: 61 Days (95 to go)
O Happy Day
Cracked open my elliptical to see if I could fix it, before I went off and spent serious money on a replacement. The belt inside was loose. Found a screw inside that tightened up the belt, and voila!
I'm probably patting myself on the back a little too quickly here. It's apparently working today, but I really need it to last until tax time next year, which is unlikely. Maybe if I just use it until the weather warms up, then switch to running, I can make it last.
I'm probably patting myself on the back a little too quickly here. It's apparently working today, but I really need it to last until tax time next year, which is unlikely. Maybe if I just use it until the weather warms up, then switch to running, I can make it last.
Same S**t, Different Day
Hamas "spiritual leader" Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was killed by missile fire from Israeli gunships yesterday.
The Palestinians are howling and wailing and vowing revenge.
The rest of the world, sans the US, roundly condemned the attack, saying it would only lead to more violence. Because things were so peaceful beforehand. I guess "Intifada" must be Arabic for "Big happy smiley hug time," and the Israelis just didn't know any better.
Let me get this straight: Israel targets one of the men behind all of these suicide bombings while minimizing civilian casualties, and they're the bad guys; the Palestinians strap on an explosive vest and blow themselves up in a restaurant or on a bus, and that's somehow noble?
I'll take no joy in Yassin's death, but I do recognize it as necessary for the defense of Israel.
The Palestinians are howling and wailing and vowing revenge.
The rest of the world, sans the US, roundly condemned the attack, saying it would only lead to more violence. Because things were so peaceful beforehand. I guess "Intifada" must be Arabic for "Big happy smiley hug time," and the Israelis just didn't know any better.
Let me get this straight: Israel targets one of the men behind all of these suicide bombings while minimizing civilian casualties, and they're the bad guys; the Palestinians strap on an explosive vest and blow themselves up in a restaurant or on a bus, and that's somehow noble?
I'll take no joy in Yassin's death, but I do recognize it as necessary for the defense of Israel.
Sunday, March 21, 2004
Easy come, easy go
Finally have a decent tax refund coming my way, and I have to blow a chunk of it on exercise equiptment. I can't keep going at a pace of five days a week doing weights. And the punching bag, well, I'm just not in good enough shape to put any kind of sustained effort into that.
Now, if only I can find a decent cardio device for under $200. Maybe a rowing machine? For some reason, I seem to think those might be cheaper than the ellipticals I've seen.
Mar 21
Cardio
Time: 0:50:00
2004 Total: 50:11:00
Weights + Cardio: 60 Days (96 to go)
Now, if only I can find a decent cardio device for under $200. Maybe a rowing machine? For some reason, I seem to think those might be cheaper than the ellipticals I've seen.
Mar 21
Cardio
Time: 0:50:00
2004 Total: 50:11:00
Weights + Cardio: 60 Days (96 to go)
Far Left Hits Bottom, Digs
I've found my new favorite protest sign (courtesy of LGF):
"I Love NY, even more without the World Trade Center."
Okay then. I disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death yadda yadda yadda.Having said that . . .
Ya know what? Fuck you, that's what. Sign-waving shit-for-brains sheep-fucking pencil-dick motherfucker. I know of about 3,000 people who would gladly wait in line to shove that sign up your punk ass. Oh, wait, they can't, on account of their BEING DEAD.
Time and again you show me your true colors. At this point I'd vote for W just to spite you Leftist sons of bitches.
All right, feeling better now.
"I Love NY, even more without the World Trade Center."
Okay then. I disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death yadda yadda yadda.Having said that . . .
Ya know what? Fuck you, that's what. Sign-waving shit-for-brains sheep-fucking pencil-dick motherfucker. I know of about 3,000 people who would gladly wait in line to shove that sign up your punk ass. Oh, wait, they can't, on account of their BEING DEAD.
Time and again you show me your true colors. At this point I'd vote for W just to spite you Leftist sons of bitches.
All right, feeling better now.
Score!
Found the House On Haunted Hill DVD at Wal-Mart for $5.50
It's a pretty good horror movie, although the last 20 minutes are a letdown. The rest of the movie, though, is genuinely creepy.
It's a pretty good horror movie, although the last 20 minutes are a letdown. The rest of the movie, though, is genuinely creepy.
Friday, March 19, 2004
Vacation . . . Fabulous
Tomorrow features lunch with a friend (can't wait for the sushi, sweet and sour, and the inimitable chicken on the stick), and a trip to Menards. After that, who knows? Feel like doing a little loafing.
Tonight, I dusted off my old Laserdisc copy of Star Wars, and watched it while I worked out. I had forgotten just how great that movie is. What I wouldn't give for the original 1977 version to be released on DVD. *sigh* I don't want new effects, or deleted scenes un-deleted; I want the film I saw at the Drive-In when I was five years old.
Mar 19
Weights Day 10
Weights + Cardio: 59 Days (97 to go)
Tonight, I dusted off my old Laserdisc copy of Star Wars, and watched it while I worked out. I had forgotten just how great that movie is. What I wouldn't give for the original 1977 version to be released on DVD. *sigh* I don't want new effects, or deleted scenes un-deleted; I want the film I saw at the Drive-In when I was five years old.
Mar 19
Weights Day 10
Weights + Cardio: 59 Days (97 to go)
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Michele strikes again
Michele at A Small Victory been plumbing the depths of DU again. Honestly, I don't know how she does it. I just read her highlights, and felt like I needed a shower.
Her point about the Left appearing hateful, which I referenced a few days ago, has lost none of it's validity.
Mar 17
Weights Day 9
Weights + Cardio: 58 Days (98 to go)
Her point about the Left appearing hateful, which I referenced a few days ago, has lost none of it's validity.
Mar 17
Weights Day 9
Weights + Cardio: 58 Days (98 to go)
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
News Round-Up
Hmm, let's see.
France is cozying up to China, and leaning on Taiwan. I, for one, am glad they've finally found a superpower that they're morally compatible with.
In other France news, a columnist for the NY Post claims to have uncovered documents indicating that French oil deals with Saddam would've netted ChiracCo $100,000,000,000. That is, of course, if Saddam had stayed in power.
That's right, say it with me. ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS. (evil pinky)
Finally, via Instapundit, uncomfirmed reports of an uprising in Iran. I can't get any confirmation because the major news media has completely ignored it.
Funny, some Islamonut can make up a bullshit story on an Israeli-perpetrated massacre in Jenin, and CNN's creaming itself in the process of airing it; yet, somehow, reports of a popular uprising in one of the world's premier terror sponsors get dismissed.
France is cozying up to China, and leaning on Taiwan. I, for one, am glad they've finally found a superpower that they're morally compatible with.
In other France news, a columnist for the NY Post claims to have uncovered documents indicating that French oil deals with Saddam would've netted ChiracCo $100,000,000,000. That is, of course, if Saddam had stayed in power.
That's right, say it with me. ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS. (evil pinky)
Finally, via Instapundit, uncomfirmed reports of an uprising in Iran. I can't get any confirmation because the major news media has completely ignored it.
Funny, some Islamonut can make up a bullshit story on an Israeli-perpetrated massacre in Jenin, and CNN's creaming itself in the process of airing it; yet, somehow, reports of a popular uprising in one of the world's premier terror sponsors get dismissed.
Interesting . . . but schtupid
Kudos to CedarPundit
Mar 16
Weights Day 8
Weights + Cardio: 57 Days (99 to go)
| You are 39% geek | You are a geek liaison, which means you go both ways. You can hang out with normal people or you can hang out with geeks which means you often have geeks as friends and/or have a job where you have to mediate between geeks and normal people. This is an important role and one of which you should be proud. In fact, you can make a good deal of money as a translator.
|
Take the Polygeek Quiz at Thudfactor.com
Mar 16
Weights Day 8
Weights + Cardio: 57 Days (99 to go)
Monday, March 15, 2004
Never thought I'd say this,
but I'm missing cardio training. I'd even resort to running, were it not for the snow on the ground.
Mar 15
Weights Day 7
Weights + Cardio: 56 Days (100 to go)
Mar 15
Weights Day 7
Weights + Cardio: 56 Days (100 to go)
A timely reminder
Found via Dean's World.
It's not over yet. We are far from defeated, and there is much work ahead of us.
The only way out is through.
It's not over yet. We are far from defeated, and there is much work ahead of us.
The only way out is through.
Sunday, March 14, 2004
And on a slightly lighter note...
I give you: the living dead.
Worked on my taxes this weekend, so I decided to preemptively spend a little of my forthcoming rerun. I picked up 28 Days Later on DVD. I dunno, guess I was in kind of a mood for zombies, what with the Dawn of the Dead remake playing now.
The bad: I could see the third act twist coming a mile away. And the alternate endings were kinda lame.
The good: You know, for a movie that's a cocktail of The Omega Man, Night of the Living Dead, Day of the Dead, The Stand, Dawn of the Dead, et al, there is something really fresh and original about this take on the zombie movie that I can't put my finger on.
Maybe it's the zombies themselves. Only they're not really zombies. They're humans infected with pure murderous rage. Infection is caused by ingestion of tainted blood into the mouth, tear ducts, or open wounds. Within seconds, the infection takes over the body, leaving a killing machine with no consciousness, but surprisingly good motor skills. They don't just shamble along, they move scarily fast. It's like playing Resident Evil with a ludicrous speed setting.
Maybe it's the characters.
Maybe it's the atmosphere. You know a film's mastered the mood when you want your leads to stay out of dark places, instead of wanting themto step in,to their grisly death, a la the halfwit coeds of the Jason films.
Maybe it's the pacing. It's got what I would call combat-pacing: periods of relative calm shattered by Oh-my-G*d-run-for-your-life!
All in all, pretty sweet.
Mar 14
Weights Day 6
Weights + Cardio: 55 Days (101 to go)
Worked on my taxes this weekend, so I decided to preemptively spend a little of my forthcoming rerun. I picked up 28 Days Later on DVD. I dunno, guess I was in kind of a mood for zombies, what with the Dawn of the Dead remake playing now.
The bad: I could see the third act twist coming a mile away. And the alternate endings were kinda lame.
The good: You know, for a movie that's a cocktail of The Omega Man, Night of the Living Dead, Day of the Dead, The Stand, Dawn of the Dead, et al, there is something really fresh and original about this take on the zombie movie that I can't put my finger on.
Maybe it's the zombies themselves. Only they're not really zombies. They're humans infected with pure murderous rage. Infection is caused by ingestion of tainted blood into the mouth, tear ducts, or open wounds. Within seconds, the infection takes over the body, leaving a killing machine with no consciousness, but surprisingly good motor skills. They don't just shamble along, they move scarily fast. It's like playing Resident Evil with a ludicrous speed setting.
Maybe it's the characters.
Maybe it's the atmosphere. You know a film's mastered the mood when you want your leads to stay out of dark places, instead of wanting themto step in,to their grisly death, a la the halfwit coeds of the Jason films.
Maybe it's the pacing. It's got what I would call combat-pacing: periods of relative calm shattered by Oh-my-G*d-run-for-your-life!
All in all, pretty sweet.
Mar 14
Weights Day 6
Weights + Cardio: 55 Days (101 to go)
Quickie
Kerry Won't Say Which Foreign Leaders Support Him
How dare you question this man after he brings this up in the first place? You've got some nerve, Mr PoopyPants RWC Running Dog.
How dare you question this man after he brings this up in the first place? You've got some nerve, Mr PoopyPants RWC Running Dog.
Too much too fast too soon
I've been lazy. So much has happened these past few days around the world.
My sincerest condolences to the families of the victims in Israel in Madrid. Your war is our war. Evidently though, Spain as a people have chosen to go the route of all EU appeasers. That's right, run home to Momma. If, God forbid, the Islamonuts have their way with us, who do you think is next?
Given their political victory in Spain, can there be any doubt that al Q will try to engineer a "November Surprise" here to queer OUR elections?
In other news, I read an entry from Michele of A Small Victory, where she articulated the feeling that the Left has become a hateful party, who would rather be opposed to things than say what they're for.
I largely agree with her, but I think her note saying she only thought this of the Far Left was a cop-out. Fact is, to many of us, there is only the Far Left, with no moderation to speak of. Not since the dread "Neocon Revolution" of the mid 90's has a party appeared so uniform in it's extremism.
If Fisk, Chomsky, et al, are not representative of the whole Democratic Party, then where are the moderates? For that matter:
1) How can a party that claims to be inclusive exclude any free-thinker who supports the War on Terror?
2) What exactly does the party stand for?
3) What specifically are the party's goals, and specifically how will the party achieve them?
4) It takes two to tango. In all of the protests against the Iraq War, why did no one call on Saddam to abide by the mandates of the UN? Why was it so damned important to not put any pressure on him? You are aware that if he had complied with the wishes of the UN (oddly forgotten, given the Left's penchant for revering the world body, and perpetual fetish for giving the US Armed Forces on a leash to the UN), he'd still be in power, yes?
In all the comments to Michele's post that I read, no one was able to answer any of these questions. All the critics play their little rhetoric masturbatory games, but they will not answer these questions.
I was tempted to throw my hat in, but tact restrained me. Besides, Michele gives as good as she takes. Here, on my own space, where I can say and do as I please, well, that's different.
My responses:
Critic #1: Oh, Good Lord, no! Please stop taking random quotes from other comments and regurgitating them! Oh, the humanity! Your steel-trap logic has shown me the error of my ways!
Fucktard.
Critic #2: Oooh, you have a degree in Philosophy. I'm impressed.
Tell me, with that degree and fifty cents, could you buy jack and/or shit? With a degree like that, you're sure to land a job in no time. People are no doubt lining up down the block, just waiting to throw money at you so you can philosophize. Barring that, you could always get a job as a bouncer in a seedy redneck bar, and maybe get into a climactic battle with the evil rich dude who runs the town, a la Roadhouse.
Given your smug superiority, why don't they call it a degree in "I'm-Smarter-Than-You?" Tell you what, Plato, tell me why you're right, instead of why others are wrong, and maybe I'll listen.
Until then, until the day you and your party are willing to stand for something, kindly eat a shitcake and die.
My sincerest condolences to the families of the victims in Israel in Madrid. Your war is our war. Evidently though, Spain as a people have chosen to go the route of all EU appeasers. That's right, run home to Momma. If, God forbid, the Islamonuts have their way with us, who do you think is next?
Given their political victory in Spain, can there be any doubt that al Q will try to engineer a "November Surprise" here to queer OUR elections?
In other news, I read an entry from Michele of A Small Victory, where she articulated the feeling that the Left has become a hateful party, who would rather be opposed to things than say what they're for.
I largely agree with her, but I think her note saying she only thought this of the Far Left was a cop-out. Fact is, to many of us, there is only the Far Left, with no moderation to speak of. Not since the dread "Neocon Revolution" of the mid 90's has a party appeared so uniform in it's extremism.
If Fisk, Chomsky, et al, are not representative of the whole Democratic Party, then where are the moderates? For that matter:
1) How can a party that claims to be inclusive exclude any free-thinker who supports the War on Terror?
2) What exactly does the party stand for?
3) What specifically are the party's goals, and specifically how will the party achieve them?
4) It takes two to tango. In all of the protests against the Iraq War, why did no one call on Saddam to abide by the mandates of the UN? Why was it so damned important to not put any pressure on him? You are aware that if he had complied with the wishes of the UN (oddly forgotten, given the Left's penchant for revering the world body, and perpetual fetish for giving the US Armed Forces on a leash to the UN), he'd still be in power, yes?
In all the comments to Michele's post that I read, no one was able to answer any of these questions. All the critics play their little rhetoric masturbatory games, but they will not answer these questions.
I was tempted to throw my hat in, but tact restrained me. Besides, Michele gives as good as she takes. Here, on my own space, where I can say and do as I please, well, that's different.
My responses:
Critic #1: Oh, Good Lord, no! Please stop taking random quotes from other comments and regurgitating them! Oh, the humanity! Your steel-trap logic has shown me the error of my ways!
Fucktard.
Critic #2: Oooh, you have a degree in Philosophy. I'm impressed.
Tell me, with that degree and fifty cents, could you buy jack and/or shit? With a degree like that, you're sure to land a job in no time. People are no doubt lining up down the block, just waiting to throw money at you so you can philosophize. Barring that, you could always get a job as a bouncer in a seedy redneck bar, and maybe get into a climactic battle with the evil rich dude who runs the town, a la Roadhouse.
Given your smug superiority, why don't they call it a degree in "I'm-Smarter-Than-You?" Tell you what, Plato, tell me why you're right, instead of why others are wrong, and maybe I'll listen.
Until then, until the day you and your party are willing to stand for something, kindly eat a shitcake and die.
Thursday, March 11, 2004
Fun With Media Bias
Props to Instapundit.
You know that woman that was arrested for spying for Iraq? Turns out she also worked as an anti-war activist, and on the election campaigns of 4 Democratic candidates.
The headline?
"Accused Iraq Spy is Cousin of Bush Staffer," or some such.
*sigh*
Mar 11
Weights Day 5
Weights + Cardio: 54 Days (102 to go)
You know that woman that was arrested for spying for Iraq? Turns out she also worked as an anti-war activist, and on the election campaigns of 4 Democratic candidates.
The headline?
"Accused Iraq Spy is Cousin of Bush Staffer," or some such.
*sigh*
Mar 11
Weights Day 5
Weights + Cardio: 54 Days (102 to go)
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Every time I think I'm getting in shape
All I have to do is hit the punching bag for an hour, and I'm reminded that there's still a ways to go. Egad, my arms feel like jelly.
Mar 10
Cardio
Time: 1:00:00
2004 Total: 49:21:00
Weights + Cardio: 53 Days (103 to go)
Mar 10
Cardio
Time: 1:00:00
2004 Total: 49:21:00
Weights + Cardio: 53 Days (103 to go)
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
I give up
On finding a decent,yet cheap accountant to do my taxes. They're either decent, or cheap, but apparently not both. I'm going to try TurboTax; it comes highly recommended by some of my co-workers. Yeah, I know, I'm more than capable of doing this myself; frankly, I just don't want the stress.
Goodnight, world, it's time for bed.
Mar 9
Weights Day 4
Weights + Cardio : 52 Days (104 to go)
Goodnight, world, it's time for bed.
Mar 9
Weights Day 4
Weights + Cardio : 52 Days (104 to go)
Sunday, March 07, 2004
Taking some time off from cardio, I think
The belt's slipping in my elliptical glider. So, I'm either going to have to fix it, or replace the whole shebang. They're hard to find, too. Figures the only piece of cardio equiptment I like is none too popular these days.
Also, found an error in my previous correction. Doofus.
But for now, I'm calling it a night.
Mar 7
Weights Day 3
Weights + Cardio: 51 Days (105 to go)
Also, found an error in my previous correction. Doofus.
But for now, I'm calling it a night.
Mar 7
Weights Day 3
Weights + Cardio: 51 Days (105 to go)
Oh, Damn it!
I just realized I forgot to record Friday's workout. Stooge
Mar 5
Cardio
Time:0:59:00
2004 Total: 48:21:00
Weights + Cardio: 49 Days (107 to go)
And the date was wrong for yesterday's entry; it should've read March 6.
Mar 5
Cardio
Time:0:59:00
2004 Total: 48:21:00
Weights + Cardio: 49 Days (107 to go)
And the date was wrong for yesterday's entry; it should've read March 6.
I've noticed...
Reading other Iowa blogs, such as Tusk & Talon, and CedarPundit (both linked to by Iowa Libertarian, if you care to see for yourself) a certain amount of disrespect towards teachers. Or maybe non-respect. No doubt much of it is due to the politics of the average teacher, which does tend to skew Left. Some of it may just be due to the Right-wing meme that public schools are shit. Some of it, I'm sure is just a lack of respect for the profession itself; "Those who can, do; Those who can't, teach." Yadda Yadda Yadda. All of these things are never going to change, no matter what I do or say about it.
A more legitimate complaint is that schools are asking for more money each year, and well above the inflation rate. With declining enrollment, to boot. Where is the money going? Little Johnny still can't read, but my property taxes rise an outrageous amount every year. WTF? It's poor money management. Those teachers, with their sports cars and fur coats, living like fat cats on our tax dollars. (You get the idea.)
Something that's not been considered is that since 1994, public schools have literally been expected to do more with less. Every student is guaranteed an education in "the least restrictive environment." The school district, by law, must make any and all accomodations deemed necessary to help special needs students successful in a regular ed classroom. Examples:
1) Most special ed students have a roster (aka resource) teacher. This teacher sees their roster students once a day, and provides assistance with reading, etc; they are also responsible for keeping students on the right track over the course of a school year. Each resource teacher at my school has about 30 students.
So, take about $35,000 divided by 30 students, and you get about $1166.67 per year, per student. Take that times the 150 or so students who are legally entitled to this help, and you get about $175,000.50 that my building has to pay just to comply with the law.
2) Some students, whose IEPs require it, are entitled to a full-time paraprofessional to assist them, and only them, through the school day. I've seen the paperwork on some of them. Get this, there are students in this town who are entitled to have a para write class notes for them. Yes, that's right. Because of the IEP that was written for them in elementary school, my building is legally obligated to pay people to follow
these kids around, and take their notes for them. There's about four in my building, so take $20,000 x 4, and you've got another $80,000 of your hard-earned money spent.
In just the two examples above, I've accounted for about $255,000 that my building has to spend each year to comply with federal law. This money comes out of our budget. There's no extra grant money coming our way for this; it's something we just have to plan on spending. And every year, more and more students are categorized as special ed, which means we have to set aside more and more money for it.
I've nothing against special ed students, and I think that, within reason, mainstreaming is a good idea (not so much for example 2, above). But you must recognize that educating them is not cheap.
So, for the people who accuse schools of money mismanagement, consider this: special ed programs are required by law. Art and Music aren't. Given an ever-increasing demand for the former, and a budget adjusted for inflation only, can you guess what's going to get cut?
I knew you could.
A more legitimate complaint is that schools are asking for more money each year, and well above the inflation rate. With declining enrollment, to boot. Where is the money going? Little Johnny still can't read, but my property taxes rise an outrageous amount every year. WTF? It's poor money management. Those teachers, with their sports cars and fur coats, living like fat cats on our tax dollars. (You get the idea.)
Something that's not been considered is that since 1994, public schools have literally been expected to do more with less. Every student is guaranteed an education in "the least restrictive environment." The school district, by law, must make any and all accomodations deemed necessary to help special needs students successful in a regular ed classroom. Examples:
1) Most special ed students have a roster (aka resource) teacher. This teacher sees their roster students once a day, and provides assistance with reading, etc; they are also responsible for keeping students on the right track over the course of a school year. Each resource teacher at my school has about 30 students.
So, take about $35,000 divided by 30 students, and you get about $1166.67 per year, per student. Take that times the 150 or so students who are legally entitled to this help, and you get about $175,000.50 that my building has to pay just to comply with the law.
2) Some students, whose IEPs require it, are entitled to a full-time paraprofessional to assist them, and only them, through the school day. I've seen the paperwork on some of them. Get this, there are students in this town who are entitled to have a para write class notes for them. Yes, that's right. Because of the IEP that was written for them in elementary school, my building is legally obligated to pay people to follow
these kids around, and take their notes for them. There's about four in my building, so take $20,000 x 4, and you've got another $80,000 of your hard-earned money spent.
In just the two examples above, I've accounted for about $255,000 that my building has to spend each year to comply with federal law. This money comes out of our budget. There's no extra grant money coming our way for this; it's something we just have to plan on spending. And every year, more and more students are categorized as special ed, which means we have to set aside more and more money for it.
I've nothing against special ed students, and I think that, within reason, mainstreaming is a good idea (not so much for example 2, above). But you must recognize that educating them is not cheap.
So, for the people who accuse schools of money mismanagement, consider this: special ed programs are required by law. Art and Music aren't. Given an ever-increasing demand for the former, and a budget adjusted for inflation only, can you guess what's going to get cut?
I knew you could.
Saturday, March 06, 2004
I've noticed...
a peculiar satisfaction with the Martha Stewart verdict.
Undoubtedly, some of it is due to Stewart's icy demeanor, and her reputation as Bitch Queen of the Universe.
I also think there's some resentment. She's rich, we're not, therefore, she deserves to get knocked down a peg. Never mind that she made her money the hard way. She didn't hit the Powerball Jackpot, or have bajillionaire parents. She made her money by working hard, working smart, and being ruthless. She earned every cent she ever made.
I'm not excusing her actions; the stock selling was understandable, but the cover-up was criminal. I take no perverse delight in her incarceration, though.
Undoubtedly, some of it is due to Stewart's icy demeanor, and her reputation as Bitch Queen of the Universe.
I also think there's some resentment. She's rich, we're not, therefore, she deserves to get knocked down a peg. Never mind that she made her money the hard way. She didn't hit the Powerball Jackpot, or have bajillionaire parents. She made her money by working hard, working smart, and being ruthless. She earned every cent she ever made.
I'm not excusing her actions; the stock selling was understandable, but the cover-up was criminal. I take no perverse delight in her incarceration, though.
Friday, March 05, 2004
Let me get this straight . . .
Democrats want Bush to campaign without mentioning the strongest part of his record? Yeah, they'd like that, wouldn't they. As has been pointed out to me by a friend, Bush doesn't have a lot else going for him, at least according to the consensual groupthink. Take this off the table, and Kerry admittedly looks stronger.
But there's more to it than that, I think.
Last September, the media shied away from showing footage from that black day 2 1/2 years ago. Out of sensitivity, don't ya know.
Or maybe the Left would like us to forget.
As long as many of us remember that day, the Left will never be able to sell the notion that we aren't, in fact, at war. Take that day away from the collective memory, and the fight doesn't seem worthwhile.
But I remember.
I remember that day like few other, before or since. I remember watching the second plane hit the World Trade Center. I remember seeing people falling 80 stories, spinning around and around, choosing a quick death over being burned alive. I remember driving home from work, and not hearing a single plane or helicopter in the air, not seeing the contrails that usually cross the sky.
I remember the celebrations; the Palestinians, the Syrians, hell, Muslims everywhere, just having themselves a jolly little party.
I remember. I will never forget.
And I will never forgive.
Any time I start thinking that this has gone on too long, that the cost is too great, I see it all in my mind again, with a recall I can't muster for anything else.
You say the ads are in poor taste? I say that forgetting all the innocents that died that day is in even poorer taste.
But we're not at war. Nothing to see here. Go back to sleep.
The irony of it all is that the Left wants the status quo back so badly. They want us to once again be the overgrown oaf that says "How high?" when Europe says "Jump." They want us to wring our hands in faux sympathy to the Israelis, all the while channeling funds to the Palestinian Authority via the UN, and putting diplomatic pressure on Israel not to defend itself as vigorously as it ought to. Back to the days of sending billions of dollars to every Middle East shithole, so that they can take the money with one hand, and give us the finger with the other. No, take it all away. Take us back to the halcyon days when all we had to worry about was whether fur really is murder, or what the meaning of the word "is" is.
They want to turn back the clock to September 10, 2001. They want this so badly you can smell the desperation. They want this because Democratic foreign policy makes no g*******d sense at all in our time. Honestly, can you picture a President sitting in the Oval Office, thinking, "Gosh, this is bad, but what will France think if I send in the Army? Better just issue some Federal Warrants, and launch some cruise missiles. That'll do it."
Give peace a chance, my monkey ass. Not if "peace" means "surrender."
No. The only way out is through. It's time to take the status quo, and tear it up. If all the apples are rotten, then maybe it is a good idea to upset the apple cart.
In the past two years:
The Taliban has been overthrown.
Al Qaeda's been smacked around like a little bitch.
Saddam's been overthrown.
Libya's abandoned it's nuke program.
N. Korea's come to the bargaining table.
All that for less loss of life than was suffered on D-Day. And barely one-third the number we lost on September 11, 2001. In a sane world, this would be recognized as a good thing.
But not in our world. In our world, the consensual groupthink says that it's over, that it's time to shift priorities back to domestic matters, or barring that, the trivial or banal.
Tell me this: is the last terrorist dead? Are Iraq and Afghanistan able to enjoy peace? Has a Palestinian managed not to blow himself up, along with innocent bystanders, this month? No? Then it's not fucking over.
I say, show the ads. Show what happened. It's part of our history, and an important one at that. Most of all, it reminds us that we need to be angry, and we are right for being angry.
Ah, cripes. Now I'm all worked up. Better exercise or I'll toss and turn all night.
But there's more to it than that, I think.
Last September, the media shied away from showing footage from that black day 2 1/2 years ago. Out of sensitivity, don't ya know.
Or maybe the Left would like us to forget.
As long as many of us remember that day, the Left will never be able to sell the notion that we aren't, in fact, at war. Take that day away from the collective memory, and the fight doesn't seem worthwhile.
But I remember.
I remember that day like few other, before or since. I remember watching the second plane hit the World Trade Center. I remember seeing people falling 80 stories, spinning around and around, choosing a quick death over being burned alive. I remember driving home from work, and not hearing a single plane or helicopter in the air, not seeing the contrails that usually cross the sky.
I remember the celebrations; the Palestinians, the Syrians, hell, Muslims everywhere, just having themselves a jolly little party.
I remember. I will never forget.
And I will never forgive.
Any time I start thinking that this has gone on too long, that the cost is too great, I see it all in my mind again, with a recall I can't muster for anything else.
You say the ads are in poor taste? I say that forgetting all the innocents that died that day is in even poorer taste.
But we're not at war. Nothing to see here. Go back to sleep.
The irony of it all is that the Left wants the status quo back so badly. They want us to once again be the overgrown oaf that says "How high?" when Europe says "Jump." They want us to wring our hands in faux sympathy to the Israelis, all the while channeling funds to the Palestinian Authority via the UN, and putting diplomatic pressure on Israel not to defend itself as vigorously as it ought to. Back to the days of sending billions of dollars to every Middle East shithole, so that they can take the money with one hand, and give us the finger with the other. No, take it all away. Take us back to the halcyon days when all we had to worry about was whether fur really is murder, or what the meaning of the word "is" is.
They want to turn back the clock to September 10, 2001. They want this so badly you can smell the desperation. They want this because Democratic foreign policy makes no g*******d sense at all in our time. Honestly, can you picture a President sitting in the Oval Office, thinking, "Gosh, this is bad, but what will France think if I send in the Army? Better just issue some Federal Warrants, and launch some cruise missiles. That'll do it."
Give peace a chance, my monkey ass. Not if "peace" means "surrender."
No. The only way out is through. It's time to take the status quo, and tear it up. If all the apples are rotten, then maybe it is a good idea to upset the apple cart.
In the past two years:
The Taliban has been overthrown.
Al Qaeda's been smacked around like a little bitch.
Saddam's been overthrown.
Libya's abandoned it's nuke program.
N. Korea's come to the bargaining table.
All that for less loss of life than was suffered on D-Day. And barely one-third the number we lost on September 11, 2001. In a sane world, this would be recognized as a good thing.
But not in our world. In our world, the consensual groupthink says that it's over, that it's time to shift priorities back to domestic matters, or barring that, the trivial or banal.
Tell me this: is the last terrorist dead? Are Iraq and Afghanistan able to enjoy peace? Has a Palestinian managed not to blow himself up, along with innocent bystanders, this month? No? Then it's not fucking over.
I say, show the ads. Show what happened. It's part of our history, and an important one at that. Most of all, it reminds us that we need to be angry, and we are right for being angry.
Ah, cripes. Now I'm all worked up. Better exercise or I'll toss and turn all night.
Thursday, March 04, 2004
My little girl's all grown up
into a huge pain in the tuchus. You try working out when you have to stop every couple of minutes to chase some stubborn furball off of the home theater rig she jumped onto. And exactly what is the fascination with chewing on wires? Can't be loose, disconnected wires. No. Oh, no. There has to be live electricity running through it before my cat will chomp.
Grrr.
Mar 4
Cardio Day 47
Time: 0:40:00
2004 Total: 47:22:00
Weights + Cardio: 48 Days (108 to go)
Grrr.
Mar 4
Cardio Day 47
Time: 0:40:00
2004 Total: 47:22:00
Weights + Cardio: 48 Days (108 to go)
Wednesday, March 03, 2004
Stay on target, stay on target . . .
Finals week progresses. Two more tests to give, and then a marathon grading session. And then I'm free! FREE! I tell you!
Mar 3
Cardio Day 46
Time: 1:04:00
2004 Total: 46:42:00
Weights + Cardio: 47 (109 to go)
Mar 3
Cardio Day 46
Time: 1:04:00
2004 Total: 46:42:00
Weights + Cardio: 47 (109 to go)
Tuesday, March 02, 2004
First real hurdle
I've never tried sticking to an exercise regimen during a Finals week before. Have a sneaking feeling I'll be as the walking dead by Friday. I'm already looking forward to about a twelve hour nap this weekend.
Mar 2
Cardio Day 45
Time: 1:02:00
2004 Total:45:38:00
Weights + Cardio: 46 Days (110 to go)
Mar 2
Cardio Day 45
Time: 1:02:00
2004 Total:45:38:00
Weights + Cardio: 46 Days (110 to go)
