Month: February 2014

Uncategorized3 Comments

“College Readiness”: Two approaches

hobbular

There’s a push to include a “college readiness test” as a qualification for receiving a Pell grant, and there’s no way that could possibly be anything but the best of intentions: Secondary schooling is compulsory, which requires a commitment from the State to provide access to the primary qualification for Pell — a diploma or GED. A college readiness test would come with no State obligation. The ridiculous notion that excluding poor students who aren’t college ready from Pell would magically incentivize public education to get on the ball with preparing all students is the kind fairy dust that gives … Continue reading “College Readiness”: Two approaches

Adrastos, Books

Pulp Fiction Thursday: Wild Town

Peter Adrastos Athas

Jim Thompsonis one of the more interesting crime fiction writers of the 50’s and ’60’s. His best known book is The Getaway, but The Grifters and After Dark, My Sweet were also put on film in the 1990’s. Very good films, I might add. I’ve read a lot of Thompson but I’ve never read Wild Town. It was suggested by my friend Kevin when I axed for requests. Great tag line: Here’s a bonus cover suggested by my friend Kat: Continue reading Pulp Fiction Thursday: Wild Town

Adrastos, Books

Pulp Fiction Thursday: Wild Town

Peter Adrastos Athas

Jim Thompsonis one of the more interesting crime fiction writers of the 50’s and ’60’s. His best known book is The Getaway, but The Grifters and After Dark, My Sweet were also put on film in the 1990’s. Very good films, I might add. I’ve read a lot of Thompson but I’ve never read Wild Town. It was suggested by my friend Kevin when I axed for requests. Great tag line: Here’s a bonus cover suggested by my friend Kat: Continue reading Pulp Fiction Thursday: Wild Town

Adrastos, Books

Pulp Fiction Thursday: Wild Town

Peter Adrastos Athas

Jim Thompsonis one of the more interesting crime fiction writers of the 50’s and ’60’s. His best known book is The Getaway, but The Grifters and After Dark, My Sweet were also put on film in the 1990’s. Very good films, I might add. I’ve read a lot of Thompson but I’ve never read Wild Town. It was suggested by my friend Kevin when I axed for requests. Great tag line: Here’s a bonus cover suggested by my friend Kat: Continue reading Pulp Fiction Thursday: Wild Town

Adrastos, Art, Books, Pulp Fiction

Pulp Fiction Thursday: Wild Town

Peter Adrastos Athas

Jim Thompsonis one of the more interesting crime fiction writers of the 50’s and ’60’s. His best known book is The Getaway, but The Grifters and After Dark, My Sweet were also put on film in the 1990’s. Very good films, I might add. I’ve read a lot of Thompson but I’ve never read Wild Town. It was suggested by my friend Kevin when I axed for requests. Great tag line: Here’s a bonus cover suggested by my friend Kat: Continue reading Pulp Fiction Thursday: Wild Town

Stupid Republican Tricks, Tommy T5 Comments

Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – When Freepers Atttack! edition

Tommy T

Well, it’s a month and a half into the latest Freepathon, and they’re only at 56%. If some of you readers don’t go over there and contribute, I’m going to be out of a gig come March. Perhaps in an attempt to gin up some enthusiasm, Jim Rob has decided to join forces with the local teabaggers and give the President a piece of his alleged mind by showing up in his tax-dollar-purchased Hoveround to protest Obummer’s appearance at Fresno this past Friday. Happy Valentine’s! Jim’s FReepin Obama in Fresno! Updates Here Afterward (FReepathon Thread XXVII)Free Republic | February 14, … Continue reading Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – When Freepers Atttack! edition

Stupid Republican Tricks, Tommy T5 Comments

Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – When Freepers Atttack! edition

hobbular

Well, it’s a month and a half into the latest Freepathon, and they’re only at 56%. If some of you readers don’t go over there and contribute, I’m going to be out of a gig come March. Perhaps in an attempt to gin up some enthusiasm, Jim Rob has decided to join forces with the local teabaggers and give the President a piece of his alleged mind by showing up in his tax-dollar-purchased Hoveround to protest Obummer’s appearance at Fresno this past Friday. Happy Valentine’s! Jim’s FReepin Obama in Fresno! Updates Here Afterward (FReepathon Thread XXVII)Free Republic | February 14, … Continue reading Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – When Freepers Atttack! edition

Stupid Republican Tricks, Tommy T5 Comments

Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – When Freepers Atttack! edition

Tommy T

Well, it’s a month and a half into the latest Freepathon, and they’re only at 56%. If some of you readers don’t go over there and contribute, I’m going to be out of a gig come March. Perhaps in an attempt to gin up some enthusiasm, Jim Rob has decided to join forces with the local teabaggers and give the President a piece of his alleged mind by showing up in his tax-dollar-purchased Hoveround to protest Obummer’s appearance at Fresno this past Friday. Happy Valentine’s! Jim’s FReepin Obama in Fresno! Updates Here Afterward (FReepathon Thread XXVII)Free Republic | February 14, … Continue reading Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – When Freepers Atttack! edition

Stupid Republican Tricks, Tommy T7 Comments

Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – When Freepers Atttack! edition

tommyfd

Well, it’s a month and a half into the latest Freepathon, and they’re only at 56%. If some of you readers don’t go over there and contribute, I’m going to be out of a gig come March. Perhaps in an attempt to gin up some enthusiasm, Jim Rob has decided to join forces with the local teabaggers and give the President a piece of his alleged mind by showing up in his tax-dollar-purchased Hoveround to protest Obummer’s appearance at Fresno this past Friday. Happy Valentine’s! Jim’s FReepin Obama in Fresno! Updates Here Afterward (FReepathon Thread XXVII) Free Republic | February … Continue reading Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – When Freepers Atttack! edition

Athenae, Immoral Values, Kids Today6 Comments

Today in Humiliating Children to Improve Them

Allison Hantschel

CHRIST: Last year, K-12 teachers in the Holyoke, Massachusetts school district were told to try a new tactic to improve test scores: posting “data walls” in their classrooms. The walls list students by name and rank them by their scores on standardized tests. This, they say administrators told them, would motivate children to try harder on those tests. Teachers did so, many unwillingly. Agustin Morales, an English teacher at Maurice A. Donahue Elementary School in Holyoke felt pressure to comply, but finds the data walls cruel. One of his top students did poorly on a standardized test in November and … Continue reading Today in Humiliating Children to Improve Them

Athenae, Immoral Values, Kids Today6 Comments

Today in Humiliating Children to Improve Them

Allison Hantschel

CHRIST: Last year, K-12 teachers in the Holyoke, Massachusetts school district were told to try a new tactic to improve test scores: posting “data walls” in their classrooms. The walls list students by name and rank them by their scores on standardized tests. This, they say administrators told them, would motivate children to try harder on those tests. Teachers did so, many unwillingly. Agustin Morales, an English teacher at Maurice A. Donahue Elementary School in Holyoke felt pressure to comply, but finds the data walls cruel. One of his top students did poorly on a standardized test in November and … Continue reading Today in Humiliating Children to Improve Them

Athenae, Immoral Values, Kids Today6 Comments

Today in Humiliating Children to Improve Them

Allison Hantschel

CHRIST: Last year, K-12 teachers in the Holyoke, Massachusetts school district were told to try a new tactic to improve test scores: posting “data walls” in their classrooms. The walls list students by name and rank them by their scores on standardized tests. This, they say administrators told them, would motivate children to try harder on those tests. Teachers did so, many unwillingly. Agustin Morales, an English teacher at Maurice A. Donahue Elementary School in Holyoke felt pressure to comply, but finds the data walls cruel. One of his top students did poorly on a standardized test in November and … Continue reading Today in Humiliating Children to Improve Them

Athenae, Immoral Values, Kids Today6 Comments

Today in Humiliating Children to Improve Them

tommyfd

CHRIST: Last year, K-12 teachers in the Holyoke, Massachusetts school district were told to try a new tactic to improve test scores: posting “data walls” in their classrooms. The walls list students by name and rank them by their scores on standardized tests. This, they say administrators told them, would motivate children to try harder on those tests. Teachers did so, many unwillingly. Agustin Morales, an English teacher at Maurice A. Donahue Elementary School in Holyoke felt pressure to comply, but finds the data walls cruel. One of his top students did poorly on a standardized test in November and … Continue reading Today in Humiliating Children to Improve Them

Athenae, Immoral Values, Kids Today6 Comments

Today in Humiliating Children to Improve Them

Allison Hantschel

CHRIST: Last year, K-12 teachers in the Holyoke, Massachusetts school district were told to try a new tactic to improve test scores: posting “data walls” in their classrooms. The walls list students by name and rank them by their scores on standardized tests. This, they say administrators told them, would motivate children to try harder on those tests. Teachers did so, many unwillingly. Agustin Morales, an English teacher at Maurice A. Donahue Elementary School in Holyoke felt pressure to comply, but finds the data walls cruel. One of his top students did poorly on a standardized test in November and … Continue reading Today in Humiliating Children to Improve Them

Athenae, Immoral Values, Kids Today6 Comments

Today in Humiliating Children to Improve Them

Allison Hantschel

CHRIST: Last year, K-12 teachers in the Holyoke, Massachusetts school district were told to try a new tactic to improve test scores: posting “data walls” in their classrooms. The walls list students by name and rank them by their scores on standardized tests. This, they say administrators told them, would motivate children to try harder on those tests. Teachers did so, many unwillingly. Agustin Morales, an English teacher at Maurice A. Donahue Elementary School in Holyoke felt pressure to comply, but finds the data walls cruel. One of his top students did poorly on a standardized test in November and … Continue reading Today in Humiliating Children to Improve Them

Adrastos, Diary, Music

Album Cover Art Wednesday: Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo

Peter Adrastos Athas

I didn’t like this album the first time heard it. I was meh about it until I saw them at the Mabuhay Gardens in San Francisco. My friend Steve was in love with the band and insisted I check them out. When I saw them live, I got it. Early Devo combined a zany-n-madcap sense of humor with musical sophistication. They were more fun live than that barrel of crazy monkeys I’m always on about. Devo’s Lead Guitarist Bob Casale. died yesterday at 61. A Devo guy? 61? I am officially old as well as sad over his passing. Here’s … Continue reading Album Cover Art Wednesday: Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo

Uncategorized

“College Readiness”: Two approaches

hobbular

There’s a push to include a “college readiness test” as a qualification for receiving a Pell grant, and there’s no way that could possibly be anything but the best of intentions: Secondary schooling is compulsory, which requires a commitment from the State to provide access to the primary qualification for Pell — a diploma or GED. A college readiness test would come with no State obligation. The ridiculous notion that excluding poor students who aren’t college ready from Pell would magically incentivize public education to get on the ball with preparing all students is the kind fairy dust that gives … Continue reading “College Readiness”: Two approaches

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media

Blogger Ethics Panels

Allison Hantschel

Maybe the Washington Post should hold one: Other recent press releases published in the post include “Why baby talk is good for your baby” from the University of Washington; “Men have a harder time remembering things than women do” from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology; “Despite warnings, about 24,000 kids are hurt annually in shopping car accidents,” from Nationwide Children’s Hospital; and “Too many men take testosterone when they don’t need it,” from the Endocrine Society, which represents endocrinologists and reports, on its website, that it got coverage of its testosterone release in The Washington Post! A. Continue reading Blogger Ethics Panels

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media

Blogger Ethics Panels

Allison Hantschel

Maybe the Washington Post should hold one: Other recent press releases published in the post include “Why baby talk is good for your baby” from the University of Washington; “Men have a harder time remembering things than women do” from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology; “Despite warnings, about 24,000 kids are hurt annually in shopping car accidents,” from Nationwide Children’s Hospital; and “Too many men take testosterone when they don’t need it,” from the Endocrine Society, which represents endocrinologists and reports, on its website, that it got coverage of its testosterone release in The Washington Post! A. Continue reading Blogger Ethics Panels

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media

Blogger Ethics Panels

Allison Hantschel

Maybe the Washington Post should hold one: Other recent press releases published in the post include “Why baby talk is good for your baby” from the University of Washington; “Men have a harder time remembering things than women do” from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology; “Despite warnings, about 24,000 kids are hurt annually in shopping car accidents,” from Nationwide Children’s Hospital; and “Too many men take testosterone when they don’t need it,” from the Endocrine Society, which represents endocrinologists and reports, on its website, that it got coverage of its testosterone release in The Washington Post! A. Continue reading Blogger Ethics Panels

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media

Blogger Ethics Panels

Allison Hantschel

Maybe the Washington Post should hold one: Other recent press releases published in the post include “Why baby talk is good for your baby” from the University of Washington; “Men have a harder time remembering things than women do” from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology; “Despite warnings, about 24,000 kids are hurt annually in shopping car accidents,” from Nationwide Children’s Hospital; and “Too many men take testosterone when they don’t need it,” from the Endocrine Society, which represents endocrinologists and reports, on its website, that it got coverage of its testosterone release in The Washington Post! A. Continue reading Blogger Ethics Panels

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media

Blogger Ethics Panels

Allison Hantschel

Maybe the Washington Post should hold one: Other recent press releases published in the post include “Why baby talk is good for your baby” from the University of Washington; “Men have a harder time remembering things than women do” from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology; “Despite warnings, about 24,000 kids are hurt annually in shopping car accidents,” from Nationwide Children’s Hospital; and “Too many men take testosterone when they don’t need it,” from the Endocrine Society, which represents endocrinologists and reports, on its website, that it got coverage of its testosterone release in The Washington Post! A. Continue reading Blogger Ethics Panels

Adrastos, Diary, Law/Justice1 Comment

NOLA Notes: Everyone’s an art critic

Peter Adrastos Athas

Light blogging from me this week. Hey, stop cheering. Here’s a story that’s funny only because nobody got hurt, but they didn’t so it is: A man was arrested Sunday after firing shots into artwork being sold on Jackson Square, according to New Orleans police. No one was injured by the bullets. Eric Wilson, 41, of Hiram, Ga., was arrested in the French Quarter after firing five shots into paintings that were being sold on the Decatur Street side of Jackson Square. NOPD said he has been charged with five counts of aggravated criminal damage, illegal discharge of a firearm … Continue reading NOLA Notes: Everyone’s an art critic

Adrastos, Diary, Law/Justice1 Comment

NOLA Notes: Everyone’s an art critic

Peter Adrastos Athas

Light blogging from me this week. Hey, stop cheering. Here’s a story that’s funny only because nobody got hurt, but they didn’t so it is: A man was arrested Sunday after firing shots into artwork being sold on Jackson Square, according to New Orleans police. No one was injured by the bullets. Eric Wilson, 41, of Hiram, Ga., was arrested in the French Quarter after firing five shots into paintings that were being sold on the Decatur Street side of Jackson Square. NOPD said he has been charged with five counts of aggravated criminal damage, illegal discharge of a firearm … Continue reading NOLA Notes: Everyone’s an art critic

Adrastos, Diary, Law/Justice1 Comment

NOLA Notes: Everyone’s an art critic

Peter Adrastos Athas

Light blogging from me this week. Hey, stop cheering. Here’s a story that’s funny only because nobody got hurt, but they didn’t so it is: A man was arrested Sunday after firing shots into artwork being sold on Jackson Square, according to New Orleans police. No one was injured by the bullets. Eric Wilson, 41, of Hiram, Ga., was arrested in the French Quarter after firing five shots into paintings that were being sold on the Decatur Street side of Jackson Square. NOPD said he has been charged with five counts of aggravated criminal damage, illegal discharge of a firearm … Continue reading NOLA Notes: Everyone’s an art critic

Adrastos, Diary, Law/Justice1 Comment

NOLA Notes: Everyone’s an art critic

Peter Adrastos Athas

Light blogging from me this week. Hey, stop cheering. Here’s a story that’s funny only because nobody got hurt, but they didn’t so it is: A man was arrested Sunday after firing shots into artwork being sold on Jackson Square, according to New Orleans police. No one was injured by the bullets. Eric Wilson, 41, of Hiram, Ga., was arrested in the French Quarter after firing five shots into paintings that were being sold on the Decatur Street side of Jackson Square. NOPD said he has been charged with five counts of aggravated criminal damage, illegal discharge of a firearm … Continue reading NOLA Notes: Everyone’s an art critic

Adrastos, Diary, Law/Justice, New Orleans1 Comment

NOLA Notes: Everyone’s an art critic

Peter Adrastos Athas

Light blogging from me this week. Hey, stop cheering.Here’s a story that’s funny only because nobody got hurt, but they didn’t so it is: A man was arrested Sunday after firing shots into artwork being sold on Jackson Square, according to New Orleans police. No one was injured by the bullets. Eric Wilson, 41, of Hiram, Ga., was arrested in the French Quarter after firing five shots into paintings that were being sold on the Decatur Street side of Jackson Square. NOPD said he has been charged with five counts of aggravated criminal damage, illegal discharge of a firearm and … Continue reading NOLA Notes: Everyone’s an art critic

Athenae, Economy1 Comment

It’s HAARD To Pay People Fairly

Allison Hantschel

Also, the swimming coach is getting shafted. “And I’ll probably choose to do something else for a living if we ever had to go that route because it’s so complex,” Barta says. “Do you pay the Division III football player as an employee? Do you pay the tennis student athlete as an employee?” According to a database maintained by The Tennessean, in 2010-11, Gary Barta earned $456,992 ($3,000 in non-university compensation), and had the opportunity to earn another $140,000 in bonuses. So here is a man who earns over $400,000 per year, possibly over $500,000 with bonuses, and his job … Continue reading It’s HAARD To Pay People Fairly

Athenae, Economy1 Comment

It’s HAARD To Pay People Fairly

Allison Hantschel

Also, the swimming coach is getting shafted. “And I’ll probably choose to do something else for a living if we ever had to go that route because it’s so complex,” Barta says. “Do you pay the Division III football player as an employee? Do you pay the tennis student athlete as an employee?” According to a database maintained by The Tennessean, in 2010-11, Gary Barta earned $456,992 ($3,000 in non-university compensation), and had the opportunity to earn another $140,000 in bonuses. So here is a man who earns over $400,000 per year, possibly over $500,000 with bonuses, and his job … Continue reading It’s HAARD To Pay People Fairly

Athenae, Economy1 Comment

It’s HAARD To Pay People Fairly

Allison Hantschel

Also, the swimming coach is getting shafted. “And I’ll probably choose to do something else for a living if we ever had to go that route because it’s so complex,” Barta says. “Do you pay the Division III football player as an employee? Do you pay the tennis student athlete as an employee?” According to a database maintained by The Tennessean, in 2010-11, Gary Barta earned $456,992 ($3,000 in non-university compensation), and had the opportunity to earn another $140,000 in bonuses. So here is a man who earns over $400,000 per year, possibly over $500,000 with bonuses, and his job … Continue reading It’s HAARD To Pay People Fairly