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kend: Why don't you move to "half way" (in the middle) between Canada and Phoenix so that you can enjoy a temperature without extremes. How about Flagstaff? That's half way between (the middle) Phoenix and Canada, isn't it? See, compromise...that's what it's all about! ;-}
ChicagoMatt: Shhhhh! Just between you and me. ;-}
Does it really pain you? Or do you enjoy it? Maybe you just can't help it? But remember...you brought the subject up.
And if you think that what you have said "dispenses with confusion": first off, I don't think I'm the one who is "confused". I think those who try to proselytize their religious or superstitious beliefs are the ones that are confused.
You may think of it as a strength..but is it a strength when a hopeless drunk or drug user continues to believe that one day they will quit, but for now they will have another drink or shoot up again? Believing that one day you will exist in better place, providing you obediently follow some contrived rituals that were designed by the chief mental herders and Machiavelli worshippers, keeps people subdued and subservient to their current worldly condition while their exploiters live for today and seize the moment. Carpe Diem to all you Latin lovers out there!
Just like Machiavelli, the exploiters will pretend to be pious and decent people but they will end up with all the gold and much better worldly living conditions. Or, perhaps some use it to help hide their own guilt complexes, if they have any at all to begin with, which allows them to continue ruthlessly exploiting other less fortunates while their mental crutch keeps them from deviating in their exploitative endeavors. How many of these superstitious exploiters, that feign piety, actually believe that phrase about "it is easier for camels to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to get into that mythical place in the clouds?
With all those slaves, who willingly accept their lowly condition while letting others trample all over them, why should the ruling elite, or their wannabes, try to deviate from this easy exploitation-of-others path? Knowing that in reality, nothing exists for them once they die, might help to jolt them to a bit of reality resulting in more "push-back" rather than resignation to a fantasy world. It is really defeatism dressed up in just-pretend clothing.
Better to strive for a better worldly life because that's all there is. "Opium for the masses" keeps people imprisoned in a make-believe fantasy world... which is a poor substitute for for real living. The wolves just love it when you live in that fantasy world, makes it easy to keep you downtrodden and less of a competition for the good life. Thieves love an easy prey (no pun intended...well, maybe a little).
You mean that they "overturn the money changer's tables" or "go down into the land of Canaan, kill every man and man-child...take the women and girls as sex slaves...steal their property" or "offer their young females to be ravaged by the deviates who want to bugger their male guests" or "generally treat women as chattel" or "sacrificing one's son at the alter on on a cross?" That kind of thing?
I've had fraudulent charges made on my credit cards three times in my life. the first time, the company caught it a day later and called me about it. The person was able to get the mechandise with my credit numbers (a $600 television, if I recall), but I was not personally responsible for that. They just issued me a new card. The other two times, I got a call immediately that something way up. They asked if I was trying to make a purchase, I said no, and that was that. The person didn't get the mechandise.
Which is actually one of the benefits of being tracked by companies like VISA. They know where I live, know where I shop. If something outside of my normal routine comes along, like purchases in different states, they know and can check it out.
Once I used a credit card while in Vegas, and ALL of my cards were frozen until I called to confirm it was me.
Of course, it is in their best interested to keep fraud down. As far as I know, no one is legally liable for fraud like that. It's more of an annoyance and a lot of time to fix.
The correlation between school funding and academic results is indeed undeniable. Are the wealthier students supposed to feel guilty for living in a wealthier area? Should residents in wealthier areas be forced to pay for both their children's education, AND subsidize a high-quality education for those that live in poorer areas? Aren't better schools one thing that attracts people to better suburbs? I'm not saying we call all live in Highland Park (or the wealthier suburb of whatever city you are in.) But does that mean we should look at those people with contempt?
If you're going to do that with education, why stop there? Why not charge wealthy people extra for stamps? Why not charge them extra if they want to take public transportation?
There is also a direct correlation between single-parent households and academic success. I've seen this firsthand with my students. Why not force parents to live together until their child is 18, for the child's sake? Or, why not have one parent from a wealthy family spend two or three days per week with a single-parent family, to "even the playing field".
To focus on educational funding alone as the key factor in the failure of public education sounds just as silly as what I just said.
Oh good. We agree then. Teachers make great punching bags for the ills of society. Just like illegal immigrants and the wealthy, depending on which side of an issue you're on.
I just have to mention to all my global warming freinds. We are in May and we just received a foot of snow and going to have a high tempature of zero today (32 US) our average temps have dropped severally over the last 5 years. I know I am being selfish but can global warming please come back I can't take it any more. I feel like I am in one of those little glass bubbles you shake and it snows and someone just keeps shaking the $&@#ing thing
Palin the Dems are in the middle? i don't think so. Everything they want to do is extremely progessive. Raising mimiunium wage, raising taxes, social program after social program. They want there nose in everyone's business as they know how to run your life better then you do. To me by the middle I mean a compromise somewhere between the Dems and Rep. For example the min wage is $7.25 there and the Dems want it to be $10.00 and the Rep want to leave it at $7.25 a party in the middle would raise it to something like $8.25. Instead under your system nothing happens.
I can't argue with you about the mortgage and real estate and problem it is a mess down there as I mentioned before I think your government should step in and tighten up the rules there And you know me I hate government involved in anything.
Since you agree, I will agree (quietly, between you and I), that maybe, just maybe, I've had a slightly easier time succeeding because I am a white guy. But that shouldn't disqualify everything I've accomplished. I feel like some Progressives want anyone who isn't a white guy to throw their hands up in the air, give up trying, blame their problems on people like me, and try to "bring us down a notch."
Not sure if this matters, but literally everywhere I have worked, my boss has been a woman or a minority. While there may still be institutional racism and sexism, judging from my experience, it's way over-hyped.
And, everywhere I have ever worked has had an "encourage diversity" hiring process. Literally, when I worked retail before teaching, we had a sign by the front door that said, "Now Hiring. Women and Minorities Engouraged to Apply." How is that NOT racist or sexist?
Chicago public schools used to use race as part of the selective enrollment high school vetting process: You got more points for being a minority. But they had to stop that two or three years ago after someone sued, claiming racism, which it was. Nowadays, the point system is based on the income level of the block you live on. So my daughter, who starts high school next year, did not get into one any of the selective enrollment schools with her score (890 on a 900 scale). Our block is classified as "high income". If we lived in a "low income" block, she would have gotten in to any of the four selective enrollment schools with her score. They've just replaced the racist policies with classist policies. In essence, I put more into the Chicago Public School "pot", because my property taxes are higher than most, but my own children can't get into the nicest schools. Do you see how someone in my position might feel like they are being punished for being successful, even if it is an overused term?
Public education does well in wealthy suburbs and wealthy neighborhoods of the city, e.g., Lincoln Park H.S. in Chicago, not a charter or magnet school and which also has tremendous funding compared to other schools in not so rich neighborhoods. Thus is our unjust system of funding schools in the city and in Illinois, by local property taxes, which helps maintain a cycle of poverty. Poorer communities generate less tax revenue so their schools are underfunded. The correlation between a school's funding and school's academic results is undeniable.
There may well be, nevertheless, an influence of other factors on academic success than school funding which is why education is not just an education issue but also a labor issue, a health issue and every other kind of issue. I.e., if things aren't alright at home, mom and dad don't have a decent job, the refrigerator's empty, people aren't well and can't go the doctor and what have you, junior can't concentrate on school, at least not like a rich kid can. Under some circumstances there's only so much a teacher can do.
Anyway, with the privatization schemes, charters and vouchers, it was found that the students at charters - and especially students with vouchers - would end up back at the general public schools because the private schools and the charter schools have selective admissions policies and don't have to take everybody. Then, when the better students are siphoned off from the public schools by charter schools, the public shools becomes a "failing" schools because their averages are now much lower.
I think the reason for ending isolation of special ed. students is because including them is better for their performance. Perhaps more able students could be separated in another classroom (like Thom was) if including them would hold them back but it's not at all necessary to steal the system from the people and put it in some rich asshole's pocket - to privatize it - or to disempower and pauperize the teachers - bust their union - to do that.
"English Is Our Language, No Excetions, Learn It"
are you missing an "r" or a "p"? ;-}
Content repeated, therefore deleted.
Palindromedary ~ You're also a atheist. As much as it pains me to mention this topic again it is the only way to dispense your confusion. The black people I know have a devout spiritual belief system. After all, when you have nothing what else are you going to do but embrace faith? As I've stated before, most churches I'm aware of pursue riches. One glaring exception are black Baptist churches. They accept poverty and spirituality. They are one of the few churches who actually adhere to the principles of the Bible. Sometimes, and I think I'm right, I perceive black people as pitying white people more than anything else. It is my belief that this comes from the strength of their faith. Their faith lifts them up to a higher level of intellect. Nothing new, really. Just look at what faith alone enabled the Jewish people to survive throughout the ages. If you consider the impact of faith on black people this might just fill in the void in your understanding of the situation--as hokey as that might seem to you, it certainly has worked for them.
DAnneMarc: You may very well be correct. Most blacks may very well not hold a grudge in any way. I can't imagine why not...though...but again...I'm a whitey. I have never actually heard any my black friends use the term honky or cracker. I've heard Richard Prior use those terms...in a comedy skit.
So, as incorrect as I may be, I find it rather hard to believe that anyone after having been down that path would not have some kind of animosity against those who have done what they've done... to not only the blacks but other non-white people as well. Surely, you have to admit that there are some in these groups that have a certain amount of animosity toward the historical treatment of their races.
Or, maybe that picture on the T-shirt I like to wear was designed by white people...you know the one with a picture of 4 Indian Chiefs holding rifles with a caption: "Defending Homeland Security Since 1492".
I agree with you that some white people can be scary and do some really horrible racist things--but "a group psychosis of Karma"? Whoa..that's too deep for me!
One of my all time movie favorites, that I've seen several times, is "Beloved". There are too many would be "school teachers" out there. (no offense ChicagoMatt..I don't think "school teacher" was really much of a real school teacher...but then again, I didn't read the book..just saw the movie several times). Hey! Read the book....now there's a novel idea. One of these days I'm going to get around to reading Les Miserables as well.
ChicagoMatt ~ Once again you are saying that, 'because it worked before doesn't mean it can ever work again.' That is utter nonsense. You are trying to privatize education. That is what is not going to work. Privatizing anything public is a disaster. Why would you want to compromise something that has worked fine for decades for a pipe dream? Somehow Conservatives know what is best for everything and that is privatization. Show the proof! So far, there are over 100 posts on this thread alone that prove I'm right.
I'm so sorry Matt, I missed the guy at the OWS protests in the dreadlocks... Did he misspell something? Or are you just implying another racially motivated stereotype that only makes sense in your little mind?
ChicagoMatt: I know that the government has used a number of methods to sneak into people's computers. I don't see how they can do it with the computer off, unless they can remotely turn it on...which is possible...especially if you leave your modem on. But they may have already hacked our modems to remotely turn them on as well. If you want to help minimize intrusion...never leave your computer on all the time..and turn off your modem when you are not going to be on-line. Unplug the phone line to it. I know they can remotely modify the configuration data within the modem and can gain access to a computer's data if the computer is on. Some new models of modems now ask you to upgrade the modem by going to their web site...and it has been found that they take control of your modem so that you cannot have a superuser password that will lock them out..giving them fee access anytime they want. They would be able to change the configuration of your modem settings any time they wanted.
They can also sneak into your house when you are not there and copy the contents of your hard drives..they don't even need to turn your computer on for that. They have special teams to do this and they even carry their own house dust and various shades of touch-up paint and other things to cover up any disturbance they may cause that would tip you off to their having been there. They can even delay your return home so it gives them time to move out. They can plant pin-hole surveillance cameras, that would be very hard for most people to detect, overlooking your computer keyboard and monitor or anywhere else in the house. They have even been intercepting shipments of PCs and modems between the manufacturer and the merchants and loading spyware in them.
They can either install a hardware dongle that looks just like a normal connector connecting between devices on your computer...like between the keyboard and computer to either collect keystrokes or broadcast them to the street where they would be monitoring. But, of course, software keystroke loggers can also be used by getting them into your computer over the internet. They can monitor everything you type into your keyboards. I don't like wireless keyboards for that reason...what can go out wirelessly..like bluetooth..whatever...can be intercepted easily.
I never bank on-line...don't even have any bank data on my computer. Because I know that even though it is supposed to be encrypted between you and the bank. Hackers can use Man-in-the-Middle attacks and steal your information, your identity, and then your money.
Palindromedary ~ Let me begin by saying that I agree 100% with you and ChicagoMatt that affirmative action is racist and nothing more than reverse discrimination. Two wrongs don't make a right. The effort would have been better spent in education and equal rights. However...
Perhaps you are not as intermingled with the black population as I have been my entire life. I think white people suffer from a group psychosis of Karma from what has been done to black people throughout the years that black people are--for the most part--quite immune from. Correct me if I'm wrong but when was the last time you heard a white person was killed by being dragged behind the pickup of a black person until their flesh was flayed from their bones? When was the last time you heard that an innocent white man was lynched by an angry black mob? When was the last time you heard that a white family was frightened out of a black town by having a crucifix burned on the front yard of their house?
My dear, dear friend. As much as I would like to agree with you that black people are no better than I--a white person--I simply cannot. My experience--a lifetime of experience--tells me that black people--at least black people of Oakland, CA--are more forgiving, tolerant, accepting, nonjudgmental, and nonvindictive than most white people I've ever heard of. It is precisely this reason that I have no desire to leave this city. Quite frankly, white people scare the hell out of me; and, I'm whiter than a ghost.
My experience has been that despite all the problems black people have endured through the years they would much rather just forgive, forget, and get along. Most of these fears that white people espouse, as far as I am concerned, is of their own making. As the saying goes, "We are all our own worst enemy."
No Alice I am blaming the US government. I think it started with Clinton, " every American should own a home" whether they can afford it or not. Here in Canada we have strict rules the banks have to work under that don't allow banks to predatory loan. It is a lot harder to qualify for a loan here. The argument is the less fortunate can't buy and most wealth is accumulated through real estate. Tough one to call it kinda sucks either way.
Ya Matt I have been on here for years and always said I would love to get together and have a beer or two I think we would all be suprised how much we have in common. At the end of the day we all want the same things it is how we get them thst is different.
ChicagoMatt: The EXIF metadata on photos can be easily removed. There are a lot of free programs available on line to do that. Irfanview is one very popular program to view photos and with the correct plug-in you can wipe or change the metadata.
AIW: Yes, of course, I was just kidding! ;-}
And, obviously, we disagree a bit on those three topics ChicagoMatt brought up....but not much, I think.
But, I hope ChicagoMatt's choice of an avatar is not indicative of why he is here. I guess one would have to read up on Machicavelli and Machiavellianism to understand why it could make some people think....
I suppose if I put up an avatar of some evil thing, aside from my flying pig, that some people might think that reflects me.
Machiavelli represents a lot of things, as he indicates in his writings, least of which is pretending you are one thing, for advantage, and then stabbing them in the back when they are no longer of any use to you. Pretend you are a friend but when their usefulness fades sell them out. etc. His chief recommendation, for anyone who wants to get ahead, is to be deceitful and then ruthless....twist it a few times when you got it in...just for laughs.
ChicagoMatt: I agree on all three counts.
Affirmative Action is racist in that it gives a certain amount of favoritism based on race. It was originally, and maybe even true today, a way of making up for racist's favoritism of whites in the past. While it has made some difference, I believe that it has not totally "evened the score". However, is it really fair to disfavor a white over a black when that white had nothing to do with inequality to begin with? I think it is just about as bad as the original racist logic to begin with.
I certainly think that blacks are just as racist as whites...but why shouldn't they be? While one could point to the inter-tribal African slavery (ie: blacks enslaving blacks) it still does not excuse what the whites have done to the blacks when making them slaves to begin with in this country. The ignominy of slavery is passed down through the generations of black families. And how can they not have a certain amount of deep resentment knowing that they could have had successful and wealthy ancestors, just like white people, who have benefited from inheritance. I'm not talking merely of money but social respectability and prominence from all of the benefits of educational success. The population of blacks in our prison system way over shadows white populations in prison. Many of those blacks are there because they have committed various crimes but if many of these blacks had been born without any kind of animosity towards whites..eg: their ancestors had always been seen as equals by whites...then I believe that most of these blacks would not be in prison today. They would not feel like lower class citizens and they would have had it instilled in them from their parents, and their parent's parents, that equality was normal.
I agree that blacks play the race card, too. Well, why not? Do we think they should play fair when they are at such a disadvantage to begin with? Whites don't play the race card? They sure look like they do when it comes to our half black President. You know, he is half white too!
We both agree that the military budget is a disgrace. I know that building billion-dollar, state-of-the-art jets is just a moneymaking scheme for the defense industry. (My inner asshole wants to invest in those companies, but I stamp out that voice.)
As usual, the disagreement comes in the solutions, not the problems. I say reduce the military, give that money back to the taxpayers, and let the taxpayers pay for their children's education as they see fit.
Pointing out that Reaganomics did this still doesn't solve the problem. I stick with my car wreck simile. If people are trapped in something that's on fire, then is not the time to point out they were driving too fast. Telling students who, in two days, must return to their failure of a school that Reagan is to blame doesn't get them out of that school. Giving the parents a choice - attaching school funding to the child and letting the parents take that funding to a private school if they want to - that is something that can be implemented much quicker and easier than a complete rebuild of the way things were 35 years ago.
And those misspelled Tea Party signs - The media always finds the person in the crowd that reaffirms the stereotype of that crowd. Want stock footage of Occupy Wall Street? Find the guy in the dreadlocks... Something happened in the Alabama... better find the nearest stereotypical Redneck.
One more thing, Matt: it was you who first brought the word "idiot" into the discussion (Thread of April 28th; re: Bush screwing college kids; post #102). Sometime later on another thread, Mark (alias "anarchist cop-out") generalized that those who supported Romney were a bunch of idiots, without fingering you specifically. I do not remember calling you an idiot at any point. I'm trying very hard to resist the temptation to call people names, no matter how much their comments might frustrate me, because I think it is a bad habit and one to avoid. If you can prove I called you an idiot and identify the offense, you'll have my sincere apologies.
Palin has suggested I watch what I say here, in case your wife is a lawyer. Frankly, I don't give a damn if she's a Supreme Court judge. This is an open forum. But I'm sure ole PD was just kidding.
I strongly disagree with your assertion that Affirmative Action is "racist" and that black racism is the same as whites'. Another one of those talking points I've heard forever. But that's a whole other discussion, and I've other fish to fry tonite. So for now… tah-tah. - Aliceinwonderland
Hm. So should I use him for my picture? I'm not trying to overthrow the Republic, just leave the Republic out of my business (by which I mean paycheck).
And yes, I am 6'6". A full four inches taller than my father was in his prime. And, sincerely, I blame all of the hormones companies are feeding animals. Of course, I realized this too late. I was done growing vertically by then. It used to be rare to see someone my height. Now I feel like I see them a lot more often. We give each other the "nod", like it's some secret club we're in.
And I don't have a therapist anymore. I went to one for a few years when I lived in a suburb where the city offered one at a reduced rate. Local government doing what it should - helping it's local citizens. It was only $20 per session, since I lived within the city limits.
Everytime you take a picture on a cell phone with GPS, your location in embedded into the picture. That's why I can't take a photo of my Cicero painting to use as my picture here. I need to find one already taken online.
According to some of Snowden's leaked files, I believe, the government has the ability to log into your computer and read your files EVEN IF YOUR COMPUTER ISN'T ON. That's some freaky tinfoil hat stuff for sure. But, whoever is in charge of tracking me for the government must be very bored by now.
Matt, you think you're going to be Robinson Crusoe? You can only afford the luxury of that fantasy because of the democracy we still have left in our society. The basic rights of the Constitution allow you to live as unmolested as you do and to dream as you would. Without it you'd never be able to forget that you live in and depend on your society and have to share it fairly with others.