General Politics Thread IV: The Salty Talk

[saysmydoctor]

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/01/07/automobiles/480-hydrogen.jpg


Some nice sites:

whitehouse.gov
recovery.gov
fivethirtyeight.com
cqpress.com
rollcall.com
swingstateproject.com



Enjoy.

[xshady121]

Dibs On Five.

[saysmydoctor]

Dibs On Five.
Back'd.

[Machu505]

Fuck yeeeaaah.

[xshady121]

Final leaderboard for the last one

Who Posted?
Total Posts: 5,001
User Name Posts
saysmydoctor 853
loveisdead 784
Machu505 419
xshady121 409
lauren<3s music 258
wrppdarndyrfngr 231
Mitch 194
BEERfortheBEAR 184
Jason Tate 158
Praetor 137

Honorable mention.
J.C. 103
rawesome 100
asmolitor 88
WarpSpeedChewy 80
macabre 62
GeeBee 59

[macabre]

Sweet! My first honorable mention!

[Machu505]

Trois.

[Machu505]

Dibs On Five.

It is official.

[xshady121]

Trois.
h8chu

It is official.

nvmz

[asmolitor]

that mention is quite honorable.

[Mitch]

In this new thread, I hope to actually contribute to the conversation rather than simply ask a bunch of questions :-)

[loveisdead]

In this new thread, I hope to actually contribute to the conversation rather than simply ask a bunch of questions :-)

You think so lowly of yourself haha. Contribute whatever is on your mind man.

[loveisdead]

So Obama is taking on immigration (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/05/obama-to-meet-with-schume_n_488425.html) now. I would prefer it if he stayed focused on health care for the next few weeks.

[WarpSpeedChewy]

In this new thread, I hope to actually contribute to the conversation rather than simply ask a bunch of questions :-)
This. I was a ghost in the last thread unfortunately.

So Obama is taking on immigration (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/05/obama-to-meet-with-schume_n_488425.html) now. I would prefer it if he stayed focused on health care for the next few weeks.
I'm not entirely sure how much work will go into this right away. I'm probably wrong on this, but there seems like a good bit of consensus on the issue. Though, I'd love to see how Republicans handle the tea party on this issue.

[Mitch]

As much as I dislike Lieberman, props to him for introducing the legislation (http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s3065/show) to repeal DADT.

Such a stupid policy, as we all (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/11/AR2010021104873.html) know. I don't understand why homosexuals were ever barred from the military in the first place; I'd much rather see bigots out of our army than gays.

[loveisdead]

Fuck Joe Lieberman.

[Mitch]

Fuck Joe Lieberman.

Yeah. After I posted "props to him," I remembered about this (http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/print/2010/03/a-detention-bill-you-ought-to-read-more-carefully/37116/).

He had to ensure McCain they were still pals somehow!

[loveisdead]

Yeah he's a piece of shit.

Krugman is the man (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/05/debt-is-a-political-issue/)

[Mitch]

I need to start educating myself on economics and whatnot. 9 times out of 10 when I check Krugman's blog (always worth it for that one post I do understand), it seems almost completely foreign to me!

[loveisdead]

A lot of it is to me as well. Just ask asmolitor Adam to put it in layman's terms. He's very good at that.

[Mitch]

Haha, will do.

Do you use Google Reader by any chance?

[loveisdead]

Haha, will do.

Do you use Google Reader by any chance?

Nope. I need to start subscribing to the same shit Sean and Adam do. I feel I need to educate myself more since I got mod.

[Mitch]

Hmph, I think using Google Reader should be a politics forum requirement and that everyone must follow each other, haha. Collectively, we'd have such a ridiculous amount of sources.

[loveisdead]

Yeah it would be insane.

[Mitch]

Rob Bickhart, the Republican National Committee official behind the embarrassing fundraising presentation reported this week by POLITICO (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33866.html), has been paid at least $370,000 since last June by the RNC in salary and consulting fees.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33995.html#ixzz0hNcbmtlp

Edit: Wow, pretty cool that when you copy + paste a selection from a Politico story it automatically includes the link at the end.

[saysmydoctor]

Final leaderboard for the last one

Who Posted?
Total Posts: 5,001
User Name Posts
saysmydoctor 853
loveisdead 784
Machu505 419
xshady121 409
lauren<3s music 258
wrppdarndyrfngr 231
Mitch 194
BEERfortheBEAR 184
Jason Tate 158
Praetor 137

Honorable mention.
J.C. 103
rawesome 100
asmolitor 88
WarpSpeedChewy 80
macabre 62
GeeBee 59
This says way too much.
So Obama is taking on immigration (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/05/obama-to-meet-with-schume_n_488425.html) now. I would prefer it if he stayed focused on health care for the next few weeks.
Presidency is a job of multitasking. He can't stop doing his job do to the ineptitude of the Congress.
Rob Bickhart, the Republican National Committee official behind the embarrassing fundraising presentation reported this week by POLITICO (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33866.html), has been paid at least $370,000 since last June by the RNC in salary and consulting fees.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33995.html#ixzz0hNcbmtlp

Edit: Wow, pretty cool that when you copy + paste a selection from a Politico story it automatically includes the link at the end.


It really is easy to work for the RNC.

[loveisdead]

This says way too much.

Presidency is a job of multitasking. He can't stop doing his job do to the ineptitude of the Congress.

It really is easy to work for the RNC.

I don't have a problem with it as long as he keeps health care in focus. I'm far less worried about reforming immigration than I am health care and now that there seems to be some steam for health care I want it focused on.

[saysmydoctor]

I don't have a problem with it as long as he keeps health care in focus. I'm far less worried about reforming immigration than I am health care and now that there seems to be some steam for health care I want it focused on.
The immigration problem is chronic, actually. I think it's something that needs to be addressed that never will.

[loveisdead]

The immigration problem is chronic, actually. I think it's something that needs to be addressed that never will.

I hope it gets addressed. I wouldn't care if it were put on the backburner for a few weeks so we can try and make progress on health care though.

[asmolitor]

Nope. I need to start subscribing to the same shit Sean and Adam do. I feel I need to educate myself more since I got mod.

i just updated my google reader the other day. in case we want to amend the first post or something to start gathering, here's some of the relevant feeds i use:

Politics (yes, i have a bias):
http://rss.cnn.com/rss/cnn_politicalticker.rss
http://www.politico.com/rss/politicopicks.xml
http://thinkprogress.org/feed/
http://feeds.feedburner.com/538dotcom

Economics:
http://online.barrons.com/xml/rss/3_7536.xml
http://www.freakonomics.com/blog/?feed=rss2
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/rss2.xml
http://www.economist.com/rss/daily_news_and_views_rss.xml
http://www.economist.com/rss/finance_and_economics_rss.xml
http://www.economist.com/rss/united_states_rss.xml
http://www.ft.com/rss/world/us/economy

i also read yahoo finance and cbs marketwatch on a daily basis. and if anyone has any to suggest, i'm always looking for feeds.

[loveisdead]

Yeah let's make the first post in here a massive list of things. That would be sweet. Or maybe put the economic stuff in the economics thread.

[saysmydoctor]

I didn't feel like typing my RSS feed.

[hareesh.]

hey guys i have a question. Obama's spending seems to be undeniably following the keynesian theory of economics, as in he puts a large amount of money into the economy to stimulate spending. But what happens when the dollar loses so much value that it becomes worthless? I'm still unable to grasp how in the long term putting in billions of dollars will actually help us

[caveBEAR]

hey guys i have a question. Obama's spending seems to be undeniably following the keynesian theory of economics, as in he puts a large amount of money into the economy to stimulate spending. But what happens when the dollar loses so much value that it becomes worthless? I'm still unable to grasp how in the long term putting in billions of dollars will actually help us

If the dollar becomes worthless, what Obama did in the past few years will be the least of your concerns.

[Jake Gyllenhaal]

hey guys i have a question. Obama's spending seems to be undeniably following the keynesian theory of economics, as in he puts a large amount of money into the economy to stimulate spending. But what happens when the dollar loses so much value that it becomes worthless? I'm still unable to grasp how in the long term putting in billions of dollars will actually help us

Money is just a symbolic, mutually-shared illusion. It is a meaningless, intangible social construct. Meaningless pieces of paper with numbers printed on them.

[Machu505]

Money is just a symbolic, mutually-shared illusion. It is a meaningless, intangible social construct. Meaningless pieces of paper with numbers printed on them.

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/u_s_economy_grinds_to_halt_as

[caveBEAR]

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/u_s_economy_grinds_to_halt_as

Most of the Onions articles are so well written that I wonder if future societies will assume a few of these things happened, ha ha ha ha.

[caveBEAR]

In Karl Rove's new book, he tries to say Bush didn't 'lie us into war.'

Here's an excerpt;
"Would the Iraq War have occurred without WMD? I doubt it," he wrote. "Congress was very unlikely to have supported the use-of-force resolution without the threat of WMD. The Bush administration itself would probably have sought other ways to constrain Saddam, bring about regime change, and deal with Iraq's horrendous human rights violations."

Uh, does that sound to anyone else like 'we were going in no matter what, fuck you'...?

[hareesh.]

If the dollar becomes worthless, what Obama did in the past few years will be the least of your concerns.

then what will be? i'm just trying to understand the long term consequences of the stimulus package. it seems awfully similar to the new deal, which didn't actually end the great depression...

[Jake Gyllenhaal]

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/u_s_economy_grinds_to_halt_as

I figured someone would catch that

[Jake Gyllenhaal]

Most of the Onions articles are so well written that I wonder if future societies will assume a few of these things happened, ha ha ha ha.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_onion#The_Onion_taken_seriously

[loveisdead]

then what will be? i'm just trying to understand the long term consequences of the stimulus package. it seems awfully similar to the new deal, which didn't actually end the great depression...

That's true. The stimulus was made to stop us from going into a depression, which it did. The New Deal was passed during the depression to try to get us out. It worked more than you're saying it did, but you're right, World War 2 is what essentially led us out of the depression.

[saysmydoctor]

hey guys i have a question. Obama's spending seems to be undeniably following the keynesian theory of economics, as in he puts a large amount of money into the economy to stimulate spending. But what happens when the dollar loses so much value that it becomes worthless? I'm still unable to grasp how in the long term putting in billions of dollars will actually help us
You are the judge of your dollar's worth.

[saysmydoctor]

then what will be? i'm just trying to understand the long term consequences of the stimulus package. it seems awfully similar to the new deal, which didn't actually end the great depression...
The New Deal did contribute to the end, but it was the government's spending on the military that reenergized the economy.

"Weaponized Keynesianism" (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/weaponized-keynesianism/)

[loveisdead]

This says way too much.

Presidency is a job of multitasking. He can't stop doing his job do to the ineptitude of the Congress.

It really is easy to work for the RNC.

He talked a lot about health care in his radio address today. All is forgiven.

[Mitch]

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/u_s_economy_grinds_to_halt_as

LOL

[xshady121]

Why isn't this thread stickied?

[Mitch]

Probably because the other thread is still open. Maybe.

[asmolitor]

then what will be? i'm just trying to understand the long term consequences of the stimulus package. it seems awfully similar to the new deal, which didn't actually end the great depression...
That's true. The stimulus was made to stop us from going into a depression, which it did. The New Deal was passed during the depression to try to get us out. It worked more than you're saying it did, but you're right, World War 2 is what essentially led us out of the depression.
The New Deal did contribute to the end, but it was the government's spending on the military that reenergized the economy.

"Weaponized Keynesianism" (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/weaponized-keynesianism/)


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/US_GDP_10-60.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Debt1929-50.jpg
now go ahead and try to marginalize the new deal.

[FueledByFrodo]

That's true. The stimulus was made to stop us from going into a depression, which it did. The New Deal was passed during the depression to try to get us out. It worked more than you're saying it did, but you're right, World War 2 is what essentially led us out of the depression.

This kid in my school defends the Holocaust because of this.

[rawesome]

Final leaderboard for the last one

Who Posted?
Total Posts: 5,001
User Name Posts
saysmydoctor 853
loveisdead 784
Machu505 419
xshady121 409
lauren<3s music 258
wrppdarndyrfngr 231
Mitch 194
BEERfortheBEAR 184
Jason Tate 158
Praetor 137

Honorable mention.
J.C. 103
rawesome 100
asmolitor 88
WarpSpeedChewy 80
macabre 62
GeeBee 59
That's me. Yay!

[saysmydoctor]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/US_GDP_10-60.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Debt1929-50.jpg
now go ahead and try to marginalize the new deal.
I agree, dude, I'm just saying by comparison--New Deal or the war? Clear winner. But I'm not disagreeing, it definitely made a difference.

Sorry I prefer having to produce something rather than kill people. (not directed at you, just in general)

[xshady121]

reading "end the fed" now. I wish I knew more about economics to be able to see if what he's saying is complete hyperbole or not.

[Jake Gyllenhaal]

Despite being 6 months old...

ofxVMlU97yA

LOL.

[Praetor]

Goddamnit, I just thought of the perfect title for this thread. General Politics IV: Hiking the Appalachian Trail

[Praetor]

reading "end the fed" now. I wish I knew more about economics to be able to see if what he's saying is complete hyperbole or not. i'm also currentlu reading it and i agree. although that graph in the first or second chapter about the money base is pretty shocking...

[caveBEAR]

Is 'salty talk' a sexual act?

[Machu505]

Do you think 9/11 was an inside job? Well you have a friend in (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100306/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran) Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The infamous American Al-Qaeda member Adan Gadahn was arrested (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/07/adam-gadahn-arrested-al-q_n_489124.html) in Karachi today.

[saysmydoctor]

Is 'salty talk' a sexual act?
We'll let the ethics committee decide.

[FueledByFrodo]

Who posted some of the graphs on our health care compared to other nations in the last thread, along with graphs on unemployment? I need them for the speech I'm writing.

[Jake Gyllenhaal]

Do you think 9/11 was an inside job? Well you have a friend in (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100306/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran) Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

He bases that belief from the ending of Watchmen. The dude loves graphic novels.

[loveisdead]

Who posted some of the graphs on our health care compared to other nations in the last thread, along with graphs on unemployment? I need them for the speech I'm writing.

http://ucatlas.ucsc.edu/health/spend/LEvsSpend2_75.gif
http://ucatlas.ucsc.edu/health/spend/cost_longlife75.gif
More can be found here (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1193302)

[J.C.]

Subscribin' like a good little boy.

[loveisdead]

Atta boy. This forum can always use more Joe Corr.

[J.C.]

How 'bout them QU Bobcats?

I'm thinking about maybe heading over for the championship game on Wednesday night. I don't know how much tickets are going for though and I've been really sick the last few days anyway. Hope I'm feeling better by then.

[loveisdead]

How 'bout them QU Bobcats?

I'm thinking about maybe heading over for the championship game on Wednesday night. I don't know how much tickets are going for though and I've been really sick the last few days anyway. Hope I'm feeling better by then.

Can't believe it man. If they actually make the tourny I'm gonna have to find a way to go. Wednesday is my birthday so their winning would be a nice little gift.

[wrppdarndyrfngr]

oh hey a new thread!

related to the thread title :

Massa said he and his staff were drunk at a party, and one staffer drunkenly said the congressman should pursue a bridesmaid, which Massa replied to by tousling the hair of a second staffer and saying, “Well, what I really ought to be doing is fracking you.” Though he conceded the statement was inappropriate, he said the complaint was made by a third staffer out of “political correctness.”

Rep. Massa Details Sex-Harassment Charge (http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheat-sheet/item/rep-massa-details-sex-harassment-charge/push-back/)

Fraking = fucking if you cant figure that out.

[asmolitor]

i really hope this invalidates not only the right's view of healthcare opposition, but her as political figure within her spectrum:

Palin Admits To Travelling To Canada For Health Care (http://thinkprogress.org/2010/03/08/palin-canada-travel/)

In November of 2009, Sarah Palin — who is always suggesting that health care reform will lead to socialism (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/09/palin-obama-is-leading-am_n_212943.html) — insisted that Canada needs to reform its health care system to “let the private sector take over (http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/11/25/palin-canada/).” But this past Saturday in Calgary, Canada — at “her first Canadian appearance since stepping down as governor of Alaska last summer” — Palin seemed to deviate from her fear of socialized Canadian medicine when she revealed that her family may have benefited from the Canadian system (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/sarah-palin-sees-eye-to-eye-with-albertans-in-calgary-speech/article1492634/): PALIN: We used to hustle over the border for health care we received in Canada. And I think now, isn’t that ironic?

[Machu505]

i really hope this invalidates not only the right's view of healthcare opposition, but her as political figure within her spectrum:

Palin Admits To Travelling To Canada For Health Care (http://thinkprogress.org/2010/03/08/palin-canada-travel/)
:lol:

Oh Sarah.

[wrppdarndyrfngr]

also funny


Palin discussed how her and husband Todd had “gone though periods of our life here with paying out-of-pocket for health coverage (http://thinkprogress.org/2008/10/01/palin-union/) until Todd and I both landed a couple of good union jobs.”


union jobs are good eh?

[Machu505]

I see a party change on the horizon...

[asmolitor]

i think she just lost her "tea pass."

[FueledByFrodo]

i really hope this invalidates not only the right's view of healthcare opposition, but her as political figure within her spectrum:

Palin Admits To Travelling To Canada For Health Care (http://thinkprogress.org/2010/03/08/palin-canada-travel/)

Oh. My. God. She either totally changed the right's view on healthcare or lost any sort of credibility she could have possibly had left. Probably some convoluted mixture of the two.

[xshady121]

Why is the glenn beck thread back up?

[wrppdarndyrfngr]

Why is the glenn beck thread back up?

Why do you always ask this? Can you not view it?

[loveisdead]

Why do you always ask this? Can you not view it?

Yeah Jason banned him from it awhile back.

[Machu505]

He called social justice a code word for communism and Nazism.

[wrppdarndyrfngr]

Yeah Jason banned him from it awhile back.

oh ok

[wrppdarndyrfngr]

America's 25 Richest Counties (http://www.forbes.com/2010/03/04/america-richest-counties-lifestyle-real-estate-wealthy-suburbs_slide_7.html)

[saysmydoctor]

Not only is Massa going to be on Glenn fucking Beck of places, I predicted the headlines:
http://www.observer.com/2010/politics/massas-salty-language-fracking

[Machu505]

Battlestar Galactica?

[saysmydoctor]

America's 25 Richest Counties (http://www.forbes.com/2010/03/04/america-richest-counties-lifestyle-real-estate-wealthy-suburbs_slide_7.html)
Suffolk, Alexandria, Stafford, Nassau, Arlington, Fairfax (city and county), Somerset are no brainers.

Surprised not to see Bergen on there.

[saysmydoctor]

Battlestar Galactica?
I get this now and I lol'd.

[saysmydoctor]

I know it's local AND education, but Nancy Zimpher, SUNY Chancellors, call out the state.
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=908064&category=OPINION&utm_source=SUNY+Communications&utm_medium=twitter

It's fucking beautiful.

[Jake Gyllenhaal]

America's 25 Richest Counties (http://www.forbes.com/2010/03/04/america-richest-counties-lifestyle-real-estate-wealthy-suburbs_slide_7.html)

I'm really surprised Fairfield County, CT isn't in the top 25 (which is where I grew up)

[Mitch]

America's 25 Richest Counties (http://www.forbes.com/2010/03/04/america-richest-counties-lifestyle-real-estate-wealthy-suburbs_slide_7.html)

Apparently I live in the tenth richest county.

[Jake Gyllenhaal]

Apparently I live in the tenth richest county.

I'm surprised there were alot of Maryland/Virginia counties on that list. I think I'm living in the wrong part of the country.

[Mitch]

According to an article I'm reading, "[Gov. Perry] said if he was in charge of federal spending the departments of energy and education would be the first to go."

Not that I'm surprised considering who it is, but still thought I'd share.

[Mitch]

I'm surprised there were alot of Maryland/Virginia counties on that list. I think I'm living in the wrong part of the country.

Haha, apparently.

[WarpSpeedChewy]

i really hope this invalidates not only the right's view of healthcare opposition, but her as political figure within her spectrum:

Palin Admits To Travelling To Canada For Health Care (http://thinkprogress.org/2010/03/08/palin-canada-travel/)
I'm really hoping to see the day where this is thrown right back to her. I doubt it invalidates her as a political figure. Only idiots take her seriously. I'm more marveled by the fact she realizes the irony, yet doesn't actually realize it.

i think she just lost her "tea pass."
I don't think they have the capacity to imagine that about their saint.

Battlestar Galactica?
How about Caprica ? Keep up man.

[loveisdead]

The stimulus was a waste of time (http://www.cnbc.com/id/35775412)
:wallbash:

[Mitch]

The stimulus was a waste of time (http://www.cnbc.com/id/35775412)
:wallbash:

o.O

[Machu505]

India and China join (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/09/china-india-join-copenhag_n_491640.html) the Copenhagen Accord.

Where's your argument now, conservatism?

[Theseventhson]

I should read what is posted in here more often.

[loveisdead]

I should read what is posted in here more often.

I think it should be required reading for every citizen.

[WarpSpeedChewy]

Labor to take on Dems who block reform: 'We'll Take Them Out' (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/09/labor-on-dems-who-block-h_n_492076.html)
It's really nice to actually start seeing some balls from the White House and other organizations on this.

Biden condemns Isarel approval of settlements (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/09/biden-urges-israel-to-tak_n_491309.html)
I'm glad Joe said something on this. Israel is shooting themselves in the foot on this one.

[loveisdead]

I love Biden sometimes.

[saysmydoctor]

According to an article I'm reading, "[Gov. Perry] said if he was in charge of federal spending the departments of energy and education would be the first to go."

Not that I'm surprised considering who it is, but still thought I'd share.
I like how conservatives target the smallest portions of federal spending.
The stimulus was a waste of time (http://www.cnbc.com/id/35775412)
:wallbash:
It's a two-year plan. The program can't be assessed now. We have to wait until it's finished.
India and China join (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/09/china-india-join-copenhag_n_491640.html) the Copenhagen Accord.

Where's your argument now, conservatism?
"Drill, baby, drill."

[loveisdead]

I like how conservatives target the smallest portions of federal spending.

It's a two-year plan. The program can't be assessed now. We have to wait until it's finished.

"Drill, baby, drill."

I think I would argue it has already worked. The entire article pisses me off to no end. There is no way in hell we'd be where we are right now without it.

[GeeBee]

I think I would argue it has already worked. The entire article pisses me off to no end. There is no way in hell we'd be where we are right now without it.

I'd really love for someone on the right to explain to me how things would be any different whatsoever under McCain. At all.

[Machu505]

Remember how folks like Sarah Palin (http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1109/Palin_Profile_away.html) were jocking profiling as a way of catching terrorists like it was some shitty Four Year Strong album? Well Colleen "Jihad Jane" LaRose of Pennsylvania is being prosecuted (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/09/jihad-jane-colleen-larose_n_492586.html) for conspiring to kill a Swedish cartoonist in the name of Islam.

[Mitch]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/03/09/new-senator-bucks-party-to-end-filibusters/?fbid=wsed6p0c2QB

[GeeBee]

And here Brown was supposed to be the WHITE KNIGHT of the RIGHT

[Jake Gyllenhaal]

haha... Brown is more of a moderate than Obama is a socialist. Keep driving that truck!

[GeeBee]

haha... Brown is more of a moderate than Obama is a socialist. Keep driving that truck!

They should have known. He OBVIOUSLY has no moral compass, what with that racy photo shoot he posed for, haha.

[J.C.]

Happy Birthday, Ryface.

[loveisdead]

Happy Birthday, Ryface.

Thanks a lot man.

[caveBEAR]

I'm undergoing some Najavo codebreaker shit in the 'Atheist Agenda' thread. Holy crap.

[saysmydoctor]

Happy birthday, Dear Leader.

[caveBEAR]

Sir DeadLove,

I hear through the grapevine it is the anniversary of your birth today.

My best regards in that matter.

Sincerely,
Bear

[xshady121]

Happy birthday ryan!

As a gift to you, I give you the responsibilty to merge the atheist agenda thread with the god thread.

http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?p=63376811#post63376 811





Play your cards right, and that wont be the only gift for you slugger

[caveBEAR]

Play your cards right, and that wont be the only gift for you slugger

:shudder:

[xshady121]

:shudder:

You're just jealous.

lL4L4Uv5rf0

[caveBEAR]

You're just jealous.

:-|










Geebee?

[saysmydoctor]

Tee hee

[Praetor]

Happy birthday, Ryan =)

[loveisdead]

Thanks everyone. 23 feels so old haha.

[Mitch]

ZIxg7LmlEQg

Ridiculous. Glad that even some conservatives are condemning the attack. (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/34050.html) Fuck Liz Cheney.

[wrppdarndyrfngr]

Happy B-Day Ryan!

being 23 is kinda boring

[CaryGrant]

Okay, I've wanted to participate in the Politics forum for freaking ever but have always been intimidated about jumping in. But I'm doing it!
...how do I do this... um....

[Mitch]

Okay, I've wanted to participate in the Politics forum for freaking ever but have always been intimidated about jumping in. But I'm doing it!
...how do I do this... um....

:wave:

Welcome. Don't worry, everyone is nice as long as you don't post dumb shit. Haha.

[sjb2k1]

Remember how folks like Sarah Palin (http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1109/Palin_Profile_away.html) were jocking profiling as a way of catching terrorists like it was some shitty Four Year Strong album? Well Colleen "Jihad Jane" LaRose of Pennsylvania is being prosecuted (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/09/jihad-jane-colleen-larose_n_492586.html) for conspiring to kill a Swedish cartoonist in the name of Islam.
and it was a white guy who was the head of a terrorist ring here in NC. out of the 7 or 8 they arrested last summer i'm pretty sure several of them were white americans. profile away, palin...

[Mitch]

Not exactly in tune with this thread but I highly, highly suggest reading this article (http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15636231) .

[sjb2k1]

that whole article is disturbing, but the first three paragraphs are particularly gruesome.

[caveBEAR]

China in 2020 will have 30m-40m more men of this age than young women. For comparison, there are 23m boys below the age of 20 in Germany, France and Britain combined and around 40m American boys and young men. So within ten years, China faces the prospect of having the equivalent of the whole young male population of America, or almost twice that of Europe’s three largest countries, with little prospect of marriage, untethered to a home of their own and without the stake in society that marriage and children provide.

Sooooo happy I'm Irish.

[caveBEAR]

Mississippi (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_lesbian_prom_date) school cancels prom to keep lesbian couple from attending.

No joke.

[new_arbiter]

Mississippi (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_lesbian_prom_date) school cancels prom to keep lesbian couple from attending.

No joke.

I wish this surprised me, but it doesn't.

[FueledByFrodo]

Mississippi (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_lesbian_prom_date) school cancels prom to keep lesbian couple from attending.

No joke.
I hate people.

[xshady121]

Scott Brown Lawsuit.

http://gawker.com/5489364/the-scandalous-scott-brown-lawsuit-that-no-one-told-you-about

[wrppdarndyrfngr]

Reid to McConnell: Reconcile this. (http://feeds.voices.washingtonpost.com/click.phdo?i=5f2ab858a8e9fe8a5c3e9e dcda95179d)

Reid does have some chutzpah

[xshady121]

Reid to McConnell: Reconcile this. (http://feeds.voices.washingtonpost.com/click.phdo?i=5f2ab858a8e9fe8a5c3e9e dcda95179d)

Reid does have some chutzpah

Similarly, as non-partisan congressional scholars Thomas Mann and Norm Ornstein said in this Sunday’s New York Times, our proposal is “compatible with the law, Senate rules and the framers’ intent.”

Yeah. Just not compatible with the intent of the creators of the law. Don't believe me Harry? Just ask good ol' Robert Byrd.

[saysmydoctor]

Mississippi (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_lesbian_prom_date) school cancels prom to keep lesbian couple from attending.

No joke.
Problem solved.
Yeah. Just not compatible with the intent of the creators of the law. Don't believe me Harry? Just ask good ol' Robert Byrd.
I'm not really concerned with the intent of the creators. They also intended blacks to be counted three fifths a person.

[Machu505]

Reconciliation was introduced in 1974...

[saysmydoctor]

I thought he was referencing the framers of the Constitution.

[xshady121]

Problem solved.

I'm not really concerned with the intent of the creators. They also intended blacks to be counted three fifths a person.

Which Is why i said ask byrd- who created the law.

[Jason Tate]

You'd think being painted as "anti-health reform gum up the process republicans" would be something Democrats would want to bring up once or twice ...

[caveBEAR]

You'd think being painted as "anti-health reform gum up the process republicans" would be something Democrats would want to bring up once or twice ...

Well, the Democrats are collectively missing a brain and/or spine...

[saysmydoctor]

Tim Kaine is leading their marketing and well, you saw what happened in Massachusetts. And Jersey. And Virginia.

[xshady121]

News Flash. Don't start drinking at 11am. IT's a mindfuck when you walk outside and it's really really really bright out.

[saysmydoctor]

I was reflecting on 2008 and I remembered when Hillary Clinton lost.
fHkcyxIqpvk

[loveisdead]

News Flash. Don't start drinking at 11am. IT's a mindfuck when you walk outside and it's really really really bright out.

Nothing wrong with that at all.

[wrppdarndyrfngr]

Gavin Newsom Running for Lieutenant Governor in California (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20000381-503544.html)

[xshady121]

Nothing wrong with that at all.

It is when it's for the reasons I've been doing it.

[xshady121]

Yo sean, i need your twitter name. I got a new account and am building up afollowing list.

[wrppdarndyrfngr]

Sen. Evan Bayh: 'We've got good people trapped in a dysfunctional system'
(http://feeds.voices.washingtonpost.com/click.phdo?i=a52d6ffbd113bc7c09f58c 5351346c63)
great interview Ezra klein did with Evan Bayh. wish he was actually staying around to implement some of his ideas.

[lauren<3s music]

unrelated post so i'm subscribed. i'm going to be fucking trapped in new orleans. joy.

[loveisdead]

unrelated post so i'm subscribed. i'm going to be fucking trapped in new orleans. joy.

For what?

[lauren<3s music]

For what?
i'm here for work but the weather at home sucks so i'm going to be trapped.

[loveisdead]

i'm here for work but the weather at home sucks so i'm going to be trapped.

That sucks. Yeah it's supposed to pour here for like the next month.

[lauren<3s music]

That sucks. Yeah it's supposed to pour here for like the next month.
my coworker's flight got canceled and they're booked solid until TUESDAY. i can't believe i'm not going to be in dc when the house tries to pass this bullshit. UGH

[loveisdead]

my coworker's flight got canceled and they're booked solid until TUESDAY. i can't believe i'm not going to be in dc when the house tries to pass this bullshit. UGH

Think it'll pass?

[lauren<3s music]

Think it'll pass?
a girl can only dream. sigh. at least i have a pool.

[loveisdead]

a girl can only dream. sigh. at least i have a pool.

Haha that's good. My front yard is beginning to resemble a pool.

[lauren<3s music]

Haha that's good. My front yard is beginning to resemble a pool.
yuck. the weather here was great though i'm a bit over being away from home. dc may not be the most exciting place, but living out of a suitcase for a week is not fun.

[loveisdead]

yuck. the weather here was great though i'm a bit over being away from home. dc may not be the most exciting place, but living out of a suitcase for a week is not fun.

Yeah for sure. I wanna travel. I may end up making a big move to Washington State for a job haha.

[lauren<3s music]

Yeah for sure. I wanna travel. I may end up making a big move to Washington State for a job haha.
nice! what type of job?

[loveisdead]

nice! what type of job?

I've worked as a lifeguard at a waterpark for 8 years now. It's a full time managerial job with a waterpark over there. I realize it sounds really juvenile, but compared to what I'm doing now, it's totally worth it.

[lauren<3s music]

I've worked as a lifeguard at a waterpark for 8 years now. It's a full time managerial job with a waterpark over there. I realize it sounds really juvenile, but compared to what I'm doing now, it's totally worth it.
ps i should clarify - i want it to pass so it's over, not because i like the senate bill. i don't think they actually have the votes in the house. i did a vote count today and they are about 9-12 shy.

[loveisdead]

ps i should clarify - i want it to pass so it's over, not because i like the senate bill. i don't think they actually have the votes in the house. i did a vote count today and they are about 9-12 shy.

I have a feeling you'll be surprised.

[lauren<3s music]

I have a feeling you'll be surprised.
what that they're going to twist arms until they get 216? i won't be surprised by that at all. i'll be extremely disappointed. i really don't like the senate bill at all and the only tweaks they can do won't address the things I dislike because of the rules of reconciliation.

[loveisdead]

what that they're going to twist arms until they get 216? i won't be surprised by that at all. i'll be extremely disappointed. i really don't like the senate bill at all and the only tweaks they can do won't address the things I dislike because of the rules of reconciliation.

Yeah I'm in agreement with you.

[xshady121]

Hah fucking hah.

[Mitch]

wooooooooooooooo

[WarpSpeedChewy]

Sen. Evan Bayh: 'We've got good people trapped in a dysfunctional system'
(http://feeds.voices.washingtonpost.com/click.phdo?i=a52d6ffbd113bc7c09f58c 5351346c63)
great interview Ezra klein did with Evan Bayh. wish he was actually staying around to implement some of his ideas.
Thanks for posting that. Really interesting. Bayh had a lot of great ideas and thoughts on the whole matter. I actually believed his reasoning behind it. Too bad he couldn't stay long enough to really start shepherding those ideas.

[Mitch]

lyijng lir

[Mitch]

u guys are gonna be amazed whrn im a somenow a senator one day

[xshady121]

I'm looking forawrd to it mitch.

[saysmydoctor]

Bayh is only saying that cause he has the luxury of retirement. It's all empty.

[Mitch]

u guys are gonna be amazed whrn im a somenow a senator one day

Wow, I have quite the ambition when I drink. Hahaha.

[loveisdead]

I'd vote for you.

[loveisdead]

"what school does she go to"

"Suffolk Community"

"and that doesn't bother you?"

Fucking asshole people.

[loveisdead]

Oh my God I'm so mad. I wish I could have conversations like this in this thread so that the collective bunch could just make this girl cry.

[wrppdarndyrfngr]

ugh i dont even know. terrible on so many levels

http://www.investors.com/image/RAMclr031210_FULL.jpg.cms

[loveisdead]

Oh boy. That's pretty bad.

[Jake Gyllenhaal]

What's everybody's opinion of the Coffee Party that's starting to get some press?

[loveisdead]

What's everybody's opinion of the Coffee Party that's starting to get some press?

They're trying very hard to get attention.

[caveBEAR]

Can we make a thread in here for random chit chat? I understand there's a general forum and all, but sometimes I just wanna talk about random crap and I'd rather talk about it with you guys than the tools in all the other forums.

Is this allowed?

[Machu505]

Keep it in the general thread. Don't grow the forum anymore than needed.

[caveBEAR]

Keep it in the general thread. Don't grow the forum anymore than needed.

Yeah, but I meant like one thread for non-politics talk. You can't get shady's or Geebee's or your opinion on random topics in the General Forum...you guys are in here. :shrug:

EDIT: Oh. You mean this very thread/topic? Sorry, I call them topics. I just didn't know if we were allowed to talk about random non-political topics in here.

[loveisdead]

Can we make a thread in here for random chit chat? I understand there's a general forum and all, but sometimes I just wanna talk about random crap and I'd rather talk about it with you guys than the tools in all the other forums.

Is this allowed?
just post it here or the drunk thread.

[caveBEAR]

just post it here or the drunk thread.

Random non-political talk is allowed in this topic?

(I ask as I talk about something off-topic...)

[loveisdead]

Yeah, but I meant like one thread for non-politics talk. You can't get shady's or Geebee's or your opinion on random topics in the General Forum...you guys are in here. :shrug:

EDIT: Oh. You mean this very thread/topic? Sorry, I call them topics. I just didn't know if we were allowed to talk about random non-political topics in here.

We always do man. Feel free.

[loveisdead]

Random non-political talk is allowed in this topic?

(I ask as I talk about something off-topic...)

Yeah man it happens all the time. I think it was matt who said it was like an intelligent chat thread.

[caveBEAR]

Yeah man it happens all the time. I think it was matt who said it was like an intelligent chat thread.

Oh, ha ha ha. OK. I don't frequent in here all that much because I always thought it was just General Political Talk.

Noted.

[loveisdead]

Oh, ha ha ha. OK. I don't frequent in here all that much because I always thought it was just General Political Talk.

Noted.

It's like a news update/chat thread.

[caveBEAR]

It's like a news update/chat thread.

Yeah, I always see the news updates, ha ha ha.

All I wanted to know was if there's any Weakerthans fans here. :shrug:

[macabre]

All I wanted to know was if there's any Weakerthans fans here. :shrug:

Yep. Left and Leaving is such a great record.

[caveBEAR]

Yep. Left and Leaving is such a great record.

Aaah, well, if you cared, their new live album is....out there...and it was actually really good, and has some of the better cuts off Left and Leaving on there...

You know, if you'd be into that sort of thing...

[macabre]

Aaah, well, if you cared, their new live album is....out there...and it was actually really good, and has some of the better cuts off Left and Leaving on there...

You know, if you'd be into that sort of thing...

Hey man...

http://users.du.se/~jsv/downloading_communism.jpg

I'll definitely check it out, I always love a good live album.

edit: I see you have Idle Will Kill as one of your favorite albums, Osker was so fucking good.

[caveBEAR]

Hey man...

http://users.du.se/~jsv/downloading_communism.jpg

I'll definitely check it out, I always love a good live album.

edit: I see you have Idle Will Kill as one of your favorite albums, Osker was so fucking good.

Osker is one of my favorite bands of all time, and it's really just for Idle Will Kill. To me, that album was flawless. His 'alt-folk' shit he's been putting out hasn't been bad, it's been really cool and varied...but nothing's come close to IWK.

[macabre]

Osker is one of my favorite bands of all time, and it's really just for Idle Will Kill. To me, that album was flawless. His 'alt-folk' shit he's been putting out hasn't been bad, it's been really cool and varied...but nothing's come close to IWK.

Haha, same here. I'm surprised Osker never blew up after IWK, it was such a forward thinking pop punk album.

[caveBEAR]

Haha, same here. I'm surprised Osker never blew up after IWK, it was such a forward thinking pop punk album.

Seriously. When Midtown/The Starting Line/blink-182/everyone else all 'grew up' and wrote 'mature' pop punk albums, I would just sadly masturbate while listening to Idle Will Kill. Aaaaah, high school. Great memories.

[loveisdead]

We've talked about this a few times in here, but this article (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/13/texas-textbook-massacre-u_n_498003.html) has a few specifics.
The Board removed Thomas Jefferson from the Texas curriculum's world history standards on Enlightenment thinking, “replacing him with religious right icon John Calvin.”

[saysmydoctor]

That was brought up a year ago, I remember reading an article about that. These people have been slowly changing the curriculum for like ten years.

[Nevuk]

KY recently passed a bill allowing the bible to be taught in an elective course. Not sure how I feel on the issue. Mostly because other world religions are required to be taught in a world civilizations class already.

[saysmydoctor]

They're trying very hard to get attention.
Colin Abele here in Albany County started one and he's been working pretty hard to get some press for the group.

[saysmydoctor]

http://www.americanprogress.org/cartoons/2010/03/img/031210.jpg

[caveBEAR]

Obscenely true.

[saysmydoctor]

Obscenely is the right word for it.

[saysmydoctor]

Obama is unrolling his popular education plan this week, but unfortunately, it fucking sucks:
http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2010/03/obamas-nclb-20-worse-than-bush-version.html

When is the idea that schools need to be punished for bad performance going to die?

[loveisdead]

Obama is unrolling his popular education plan this week, but unfortunately, it fucking sucks:
http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2010/03/obamas-nclb-20-worse-than-bush-version.html

When is the idea that schools need to be punished for bad performance going to die?
one would think after the blatant failure of nclb.

[lauren<3s music]

I'd vote for you.
i'm expecting that i get your vote too.

[loveisdead]

i'm expecting that i get your vote too.

Duh.

[saysmydoctor]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lm2JI7sGwYI/S5nRDIbI9NI/AAAAAAAAIx4/BlnLmvLZIh0/s400/priorities.jpg

[wrppdarndyrfngr]

not sure if we have a conspiracy theory thread but i thought this was cool.

It's Official: Vaccines Don't Cause Autism [Autism]
(http://io9.com/5493821/its-official-vaccines-dont-cause-autism)
(http://io9.com/5493821/its-official-vaccines-dont-cause-autism)
(http://io9.com/5493821/its-official-vaccines-dont-cause-autism)

[Jake Gyllenhaal]

not sure if we have a conspiracy theory thread but i thought this was cool.

It's Official: Vaccines Don't Cause Autism [Autism]
(http://io9.com/5493821/its-official-vaccines-dont-cause-autism)
(http://io9.com/5493821/its-official-vaccines-dont-cause-autism)
(http://io9.com/5493821/its-official-vaccines-dont-cause-autism)

Jenny McCarthy is not stoked.

[Jason Tate]

not sure if we have a conspiracy theory thread but i thought this was cool.

It's Official: Vaccines Don't Cause Autism [Autism]
(http://io9.com/5493821/its-official-vaccines-dont-cause-autism)
(http://io9.com/5493821/its-official-vaccines-dont-cause-autism)
(http://io9.com/5493821/its-official-vaccines-dont-cause-autism)
Send this 1000X to Jim Carrey on Twitter. Had to stop following him after all the tweets about this shit.

[wrppdarndyrfngr]

its a simple correlation vs causation error

[Jason Tate]

Obama is unrolling his popular education plan this week, but unfortunately, it fucking sucks:
http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2010/03/obamas-nclb-20-worse-than-bush-version.html

When is the idea that schools need to be punished for bad performance going to die?
When a better solution is proposed. Unfortunately, Americans are probably never going to accept the fact that the biggest reason their kids are idiots is because most parents are idiots.

:shrug:

The school system itself can't just be fixed ... the underlying cause is too big. I think it's time to leave children behind. Send them to Canada. And sterilize them.

[loveisdead]

When a better solution is proposed. Unfortunately, Americans are probably never going to accept the fact that the biggest reason their kids are idiots is because most parents are idiots.

:shrug:

The school system itself can't just be fixed ... the underlying cause is too big. I think it's time to leave children behind. Send them to Canada. And sterilize them.

Oh wow.

[saysmydoctor]

When a better solution is proposed. Unfortunately, Americans are probably never going to accept the fact that the biggest reason their kids are idiots is because most parents are idiots.

:shrug:

The school system itself can't just be fixed ... the underlying cause is too big. I think it's time to leave children behind. Send them to Canada. And sterilize them.
Numerous better solutions have been presented.

[Jason Tate]

Numerous better solutions have been presented.
Can't think of one ... care to offer 2?

[caveBEAR]

Unfortunately, Americans are probably never going to accept the fact that the biggest reason their kids are idiots is because most parents are idiots.

Yup. Parents are the biggest problem nowadays (whether it's within their control or not). It's fucking sad.

[GeeBee]

Yup. Parents are the biggest problem nowadays (whether it's within their control or not). It's fucking sad.

Scrandon is living proof that parents are dismal failures.

[loveisdead]

Scrandon is living proof that parents are dismal failures.

If you ignore him he'll go away.

[Theseventhson]

If only.

[saysmydoctor]

Can't think of one ... care to offer 2?
Well, you are citing the parents as the problem. Most educators and experts would argue that the institutional framework has slowly removed the parents from the process. Parents and the Administration of schools do not work together. Most educators, specifically, want to change that.

Also, instead of punishing lower performing schools (which research has shown consistently is directly correlated to socioeconomic status)--hell before even addressing the problem of schools, you have to address the issue of poverty. And I think we both know the things that can be done to help decrease the amount of poverty. Change how we pay for schools. Eliminate 'tracks.'

Reduce the authoritarian nature of the classroom. Revamp how we assess our students. Teach in a developmentally appropriate way. Stop teaching in a way that clings to the "learning styles" theory which has been proven wrong. Limit "teacher talk." Dialogue in the classroom.

There are tons of ways to fix the education system.

[caveBEAR]

If you ignore him he'll go away.

Then what? Bicker amongst ourselves? Scrandon & his ilk are a necessary annoyance.

[caveBEAR]

Well, you are citing the parents as the problem. Most educators and experts would argue that the institutional framework has slowly removed the parents from the process. Parents and the Administration of schools do not work together. Most educators, specifically, want to change that.

Also, instead of punishing lower performing schools (which research has shown consistently is directly correlated to socioeconomic status)--hell before even addressing the problem of schools, you have to address the issue of poverty. And I think we both know the things that can be done to help decrease the amount of poverty. Change how we pay for schools. Eliminate 'tracks.'

Reduce the authoritarian nature of the classroom. Revamp how we assess our students. Teach in a developmentally appropriate way. Stop teaching in a way that clings to the "learning styles" theory which has been proven wrong. Limit "teacher talk." Dialogue in the classroom.

There are tons of ways to fix the education system.

A distressing number of parents still can't be bothered to care about their kids, let alone their kids school work. The framework may have removed the parents, but they aren't trying too hard to get back in.

[saysmydoctor]

A distressing number of parents still can't be bothered to care about their kids, let alone their kids school work. The framework may have removed the parents, but they aren't trying too hard to get back in.
Well, I wouldn't be interested in cooperating with an institution that simply sees my child as a problem.

And I'm not saying that children are angels, but also the way teachers discipline children isn't appropriate. And it's usually in this scenario, where the parent is involved.

Also, you'd be surprised. There are those parents called 'helicopter parents.'

[Jason Tate]

Well, you are citing the parents as the problem. Most educators and experts would argue that the institutional framework has slowly removed the parents from the process. Parents and the Administration of schools do not work together. Most educators, specifically, want to change that.

Also, instead of punishing lower performing schools (which research has shown consistently is directly correlated to socioeconomic status)--hell before even addressing the problem of schools, you have to address the issue of poverty. And I think we both know the things that can be done to help decrease the amount of poverty. Change how we pay for schools. Eliminate 'tracks.'

Reduce the authoritarian nature of the classroom. Revamp how we assess our students. Teach in a developmentally appropriate way. Stop teaching in a way that clings to the "learning styles" theory which has been proven wrong. Limit "teacher talk." Dialogue in the classroom.

There are tons of ways to fix the education system.
Then why have you still not offered one? All you've done is state a bunch of facts in regard to learning. None of these fix the education system. And many are actually in direct opposition to some of the best "education systems" in the world.

[caveBEAR]

Well, I wouldn't be interested in cooperating with an institution that simply sees my child as a problem.

And I'm not saying that children are angels, but also the way teachers discipline children isn't appropriate. And it's usually in this scenario, where the parent is involved.

Also, you'd be surprised. There are those parents called 'helicopter parents.'

I've worked for years in the after/before/summer school extended day programs, and these parents aren't rebelling against an institution that sees their child as a problem; they simply don't give a fuck. It's as simple as that. You're either giving deadbeat parents way more credit than they deserve for their inattentiveness, or you're overestimating that amount of parents who know enough about the school system to 'not be interested in cooperating'.

[Machu505]

"School has become obsolete. I'm all for them shutting down schools and mailing students weekly work on Mondays and students mailing it back on Saturdays. It makes sense. I mean half the kids don't care enough to learn anyways. We go to school for 7 hours to learn what I can easily learn better at home in 2. It would save parents money on school clothes, lunches. The county on busses and electricity and water. It would save the environment from busses running all the time. It would make all the kids who don't care about education not have to go and would make those who do learn much easier. Less people would get sick and more kids would go out and play making America less fat or spend their money boosting the economy. Taxes could go to more useful things like fixing roads. Future athelets would have more time to train or more time in the day so they don't have to train every waking second. Sure, some teachers would lose jobs, but half of them don't care about their jobs anyways. And it would create more postal jobs for people delivering students work. So really, what would be a downside to shutting down school? I mean this is just the beginning of my arguements. Who else agrees/disagrees?"

Someone just put this on Facebook. I'm tempted to comment saying "You're fucking stupid."

[saysmydoctor]

Then why have you still not offered one? All you've done is state a bunch of facts in regard to learning. None of these fix the education system. And many are actually in direct opposition to some of the best "education systems" in the world.
That's the point.

You should read Educational Leadership or Theory into Practice. Two interesting journals that go into more in depth than I can.

My focus isn't really on the classroom environment, more on the institutional framework of the system itself. You want results, I'm assuming. I provided a list of numerous things that if done in the classroom generally lead to better student performance based on research. That's the goal, if I'm not mistaken.

[Jason Tate]

That's the point.

You should read Educational Leadership or Theory into Practice. Two interesting journals that go into more in depth than I can.

My focus isn't really on the classroom environment, more on the institutional framework of the system itself. You want results, I'm assuming. I provided a list of numerous things that if done in the classroom generally lead to better student performance based on research. That's the goal, if I'm not mistaken.
New Rule: Let's not fire the teachers when students don't learn - let's fire the parents. Last week President Obama defended the firing of every single teacher in a struggling high school in a poor Rhode Island neighborhood. And the kids were outraged. They said, "Why blame our teachers?" and "Who's President Obama?" I think it was Whitney Houston who said, "I believe that children are our future - teach them well and let them lead the way." And that's the last sound piece of educational advice this country has gotten - from a crack head in the '80s.

Yes, America has found its new boogeyman to blame for our crumbling educational system. It's just too easy to blame the teachers, what with their cushy teachers' lounges, their fat-cat salaries, and their absolute authority in deciding who gets a hall pass. We all remember high school - canning the entire faculty is a nationwide revenge fantasy. Take that, Mrs. Crabtree! And guess what? We're chewing gum and no, we didn't bring enough for everybody.

But isn't it convenient that once again it turns out that the problem isn't us, and the fix is something that doesn't require us to change our behavior or spend any money. It's so simple: Fire the bad teachers, hire good ones from some undisclosed location, and hey, while we're at it let's cut taxes more. It's the kind of comprehensive educational solution that could only come from a completely ignorant people.

Firing all the teachers may feel good - we're Americans, kicking people when they're down is what we do - but it's not really their fault. Now, undeniably, there are some bad teachers out there. They don't know the material, they don't make things interesting, they have sex with the same kid every day instead of spreading the love around... But every school has crappy teachers. Yale has crappy teachers - they must, they gave us George Bush.

According to all the studies, it doesn't matter what teachers do. Although everyone appreciates foreplay. What matters is what parents do. The number one predictor of a child's academic success is parental involvement. It doesn't even matter if your kid goes to private or public school. So save the twenty grand a year and treat yourself to a nice vacation away from the little bastards.

It's also been proven that just having books in the house makes a huge difference in a child's development. If your home is adorned with nothing but Hummel dolls, DVDs, and bleeding Jesuses, congratulations, you've just given your children the gift of Duh. Sarah Palin said recently she wrote on her hand because her father used to do it. I rest my case.

When there are no books in the house, and there are no parents in the house, you know who raises the kids? That's right, the television. Kids aren't keeping up with their studies; they're keeping up with the Kardashians. We're allowing the television, as babysitter, to turn us into a nation of slutty idiots. By the way, one sign your 9-year-old may be watching too much One Tree Hill: if she has an imaginary friend with benefits.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-maher/new-rule-dont-fire-the-te_b_497554.html

[saysmydoctor]

Ok. Bill Maher wrote an editorial column and cited none of these "studies."

Cool.

[macabre]

I found this after a quick database search:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/p72731506kh74595/

Abstract:
The idea that parental involvement has positive influence on students' academic achievement is so intuitively appealing that society in general, and educators in particular, have considered parental involvement an important ingredient for the remedy for many problems in education. The vast proportion of the literature in this area, however, is qualitative and nonempirical. Among the empirical studies that have investigated the issue quantitatively, there appear to be considerable inconsistencies. A meta-analysis was conducted to synthesize the quantitative literature about the relationship between parental involvement and students' academic achievement. The findings reveal a small to moderate, and practically meaningful, relationship between parental involvement and academic achievement. Through moderator analysis, it was revealed that parental aspiration/expectation for children's education achievement has the strongest relationship, whereas parental home supervision has the weakest relationship, with students' academic achievement. In addition, the relationship is stronger when academic achievement is represented by a global indicator (e.g., GPA) than by a subject-specific indicator (e.g., math grade). Limitations of the study are noted, and suggestions are made for future studies.

[saysmydoctor]

Not to mention, saying teachers have "fat-cat salaries" is the most ignorant thing I've ever read.

The first thing I acknowledged was that we need to bring the parents into the teaching of our students. No one is denying that. The educators included.

[caveBEAR]

Not to mention, saying teachers have "fat-cat salaries" is the most ignorant thing I've ever read.

The first thing I acknowledged was that we need to bring the parents into the teaching of our students. No one is denying that. The educators included.

I think you may underestimate just how loudly some of these parents will be kicking and screaming if they have to be involved in the educational process. Too many think of schools as daycares.

[GeeBee]

I think you may underestimate just how loudly some of these parents will be kicking and screaming if they have to be involved in the educational process. Too many think of schools as daycares.

It would honestly be news to most parents if you told them that wasn't the primary purpose of public school.

[saysmydoctor]

I think you may underestimate just how loudly some of these parents will be kicking and screaming if they have to be involved in the educational process. Too many think of schools as daycares.
From Ormrod's The Essentials of Educational Psychology, specifically on lower-SES students (as they are the ones who perform badly)

"Some parents in lower-SES households are actively invested in their children's learning and education....but many others are less involved, for a variety of reasons. Economic factors may prevent some parents from attending meetings and activities at school--parents may have difficulty getting off work, find suitable child care, or arranging transportation....Still others, because they have had only limited education themselves, may not be capable of helping their with assigned schoolwork."

He goes on to state unstable schools, high teacher turnover rates, etc, etc.

[caveBEAR]

From Ormrod's The Essentials of Educational Psychology, specifically on lower-SES students (as they are the ones who perform badly)

"Some parents in lower-SES households are actively invested in their children's learning and education....but many others are less involved, for a variety of reasons. Economic factors may prevent some parents from attending meetings and activities at school--parents may have difficulty getting off work, find suitable child care, or arranging transportation....Still others, because they have had only limited education themselves, may not be capable of helping their with assigned schoolwork."

He goes on to state unstable schools, high teacher turnover rates, etc, etc.

Agreed 100%. I'm not talking about them, those parents usually do as much as they can (from what I've seen.) I'm not talking about the parent's who just can't help or the parents who do help...I'm talking about the parents who just don't give a fuck and for no other reason than being spoiled/shitty people. There's an alarming number of them.

[saysmydoctor]

Agreed 100%. I'm not talking about them, those parents usually do as much as they can (from what I've seen.) I'm not talking about the parent's who just can't help or the parents who do help...I'm talking about the parents who just don't give a fuck and for no other reason than being spoiled/shitty people. There's an alarming number of them.
Well, I was. We were talking about low performing schools. SES and academic performance are directly correlated (and how these schools are generally concentrated in urban areas). And that's why I said it's not completely the parents' fault. While not absolving them completely from blame.

And there's an even more alarming number of them.

[caveBEAR]

Well, I was. We were talking about low performing schools. SES and academic performance are directly correlated (and how these schools are generally concentrated in urban areas). And that's why I said it's not completely the parents' fault. While not absolving them completely from blame.

And there's an even more alarming number of them.

Aaaaah, I wasn't aware it was specifically about low performing schools. The school district I worked in was a 'poverty area'(?...I forget the actual term, it's been a while), but I don't believe many of them were low performing.

[saysmydoctor]

Aaaaah, I wasn't aware it was specifically about low performing schools. The school district I worked in was a 'poverty area'(?...I forget the actual term, it's been a while), but I don't believe many of them were low performing.
Well, the term 'low-performing' is a misnomer when you consider our way of assessment being incredibly piss poor.

[Jason Tate]

Heterosexual marriage has triggered a slippery slope leading to gay marriage.

Definitely using that in the future.

[Jason Tate]

Well, the term 'low-performing' is a misnomer when you consider our way of assessment being incredibly piss poor.
How about "producing morons"? That work better?

[loveisdead]

Heterosexual marriage has triggered a slippery slope leading to gay marriage.

Definitely using that in the future.

Who said this?

[Jason Tate]

Who said this?
Dunno, I saw it on my facebook wall yesterday ... forgot where.

[loveisdead]

Dunno, I saw it on my facebook wall yesterday ... forgot where.

Hahaha. It's awesome.

[saysmydoctor]

How about "producing morons"? That work better?
Yes, it does, but that's not the fault of the morons.

[saysmydoctor]

I find Andrew Sullivan fairly obnoxious, but reading his articles about issues of gay rights and just the gay culture is very refreshing.

[macabre]

Flying into NY tomorrow to visit Stony Brook, how has the weather been lately?

[saysmydoctor]

No idea about Long Island, dude. It's been warm here in the Capital District.



The Census advertising has been bastardized in the most unfortunate way.

[loveisdead]

Flying into NY tomorrow to visit Stony Brook, how has the weather been lately?

Awful until today. Today was beautiful. You have any questions on stuff at sbu(I know we sorta did this) just let me know.

[loveisdead]

Kucinich will now support the health care bill.

[saysmydoctor]

Monserrate loses his special election in NY. He may run for Peralta's old assembly seat.

WE CAN'T FUCKING DROP THIS FUCK.

[macabre]

Awful until today. Today was beautiful. You have any questions on stuff at sbu(I know we sorta did this) just let me know.

Awesome. First thing on the agenda is Strawberry Fields Deli. I've never been to a NY deli so I'm pretty stoked about that.

[loveisdead]

Awesome. First thing on the agenda is Strawberry Fields Deli. I've never been to a NY deli so I'm pretty stoked about that.

You will not be disappointed. That deli is fucking incredible.

[caveBEAR]

Kucinich will now support the health care bill.

What shifted his position?