"That's what it said on the form he brought home in his backpack."

A school form that Marcus McLaurin brought home last month said his use of the word was the reason for his punishment.

The boy is 7. S-e-v-e-n.

He said his Mom was gay. Which she is.

Marcus' feeling about what he should have done? "cep my mouf shut."

Seems the teacher should be spending a little time in detention. How about writing a 1,000 word essay about getting your facts straight? Not to mention tolerance? Sensitivity, maybe?

And I can think of quite a few community service projects the school board can spend some time in. A literacy project, maybe?

Keiko Dies at 27: "Keiko the killer whale, star of the 'Free Willy' movies, has died at 27 of pneumonia in a Norwegian fjord, ending campaigners' hopes of returning the people-loving mammal to life in the wild."

"The researchers found that, on a per-serving basis, the antioxidant concentration in cocoa was...two to three times stronger than in green tea..."

Woohoo! Don't get me wrong - I like green tea, but it just doesn't hit the comfort level of a steaming cup of cocoa.

"'We must come to the stark realization that a major Achilles heel is our computer networks."

Duh.

When you have a company that has done everything (legal or questionably so) to make sure that you use their software and only their software for your business; when that same company has to issue patch after patch because the software is so buggy it's a constant hazard; when that same company continuously puts out new versions of this buggy software at astronomical prices (compared to quality) and FORCES users to upgrade when they refuse to support prior versions of said continuously buggy software, when they have been permitted to indulge in this behaviour...

WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?!

There's an interesting survey on Philly.com about holiday cards. Should they show the kids only, show parents and kids, or be banned. Personally, I prefer the latter, given the state of "families" these days.

Just what is the proper etiquette for the modern family? Do you schedule a sitting and just get it all over with at once? Or do you book the whole week?

What combination of parties is appropriate? Biological parents? Custodial parents? Step-parents?

Are half-siblings included?

Do the kids need to wear a different outfit for each portrait? Who pays for the clothes? Can you recycle the shoes?

How many copies do the relatives get? How many are they expected to display? Do they recycle them according to who comes to dinner?

It's too damn complicated for me. Stick a Santa hat on the dog and be done with it.

"She wears flowered pants and her hair in pigtails, and when you put a football in her hands, she can throw a perfect spiral. "

They can't even f__in' make safe chalk?! How difficult is that?

1. If you were a member of a Mars colonization team, what item would you be sure to bring with you? Why?

PDA. So I could remember the names of everyone else on the team and why they are there. My memory’s worth squat.

2. What brand of toothpaste do you use?

If it’s on sale, it’s a name brand, it whitens and prevents plaque, it’s in my cabinet.

3. What book is guaranteed to make you cry no matter how many times you read it?

Can’t say I’ve found one yet. Plenty of movies, but no books. Of course, there’s that memory problem and all.

4. Have you ever witnessed a natural disaster (fire, flood, hurricane, tornado, etc.)?

No. And I appreciate the fortunate consideration. Just some minor flooding, and some people in the kitchen.

5. In his Absolute Blank article this month, Stephen Simpson (Macfisto) writes, "It’s a good idea to enlist supporters before starting your novel marathon. Have somebody waiting at the ten-mile mark to read your first few chapters. After that, ask them to drive down to the finish line and wait for your first draft." Who are your writing supporters?

I can think of several people I’d enlist. Just can’t remember their names.


Toasted Cheese

"Parents want to cover a lot of ground and keep children from getting tired at a big event. "

Bull. They're either too damn lazy to keep an eye on the little darlings or they can't find a sitter that can tolerate them.

The parents, I mean.

Children are difficult. They are voracious sponges of "I wanna know" gathering all the sights and sounds they can process at lightening speed. It's a good thing. But it takes a lot of energy to cope with that. And when your primary focus is on impressing other parents with what a good parent you are, how you give your little darlings the very best of everything because you're, well, so financially successful and all, you are creating a child with more problems than just obesity.

For state's doctors, tidings of gloom: "People get sick. They need doctors. In a state with 16 percent of its population over 65, far higher than most states and the national average, doctors need to stay in practice."

BB Gun Shooters Get Unusual Sentence: "Two boys who fired B-B's at a group of children and a teen in a wheelchair have been sentenced to spend two days sitting in a wheelchair at a mall. "

DUI Suspect Sentenced to Give Speeches: "A man responsible for the death of his friend in a drunken driving accident will avoid prison time by giving speeches to teens for the next 15 years. "

Now that is some creative sentencing. And they get more than the "Dummy's Guide to Being a Better Criminal."

"Selina lives and works... a 13 to 14 hour daily shift. During the busy season, she works a gruelling nineteen-and-a-half hour shift every other day. She and her colleagues sleep on the floor. They work seven days a week. She gets paid seven cents an hour. Selina has had just two days off in the last four months. She works sewing... for the largest company in the world....Selina is 13 years old."

Crissy Field Tidal Marsh

What just a little effort can do. What a handful of bureaucrats sitting around with their thumbs up the asses fail to do. Now some joker will come along and deliberately fall in the trench and get "injured" thinking it's an easy way to make a million. And we'll reward them instead of saying "don't be an idiot, watch where you're going, fool!" Which is why a bunch of bureaucrats have to sit around with their thumbs up their asses instead of just getting out and taking care of the problem.

Work together, people. Amazing things can happen.

LunaNina.com | Unconscious Mutterings:

1. Scrooge:: Dickens
   
2. Ribbon:: candy
   
3. Physical:: labor
   
4. Income:: deficit
   
5. Dream:: state
   
6. Notebook:: journal
   
7. Disney:: magic
   
8. Combo:: plate
   
9. Booty:: call
   
10. Skin::conditioner
    

"He exposed more than 1,200 people, including politicians and entertainers, who lied about or exaggerated their claims of serving in the Vietnam War"

Shocking. And how unexpected. Being the most honorable professions and all.

"...the priority ought to be creating small schools and training teachers. If so many of our children are starving academically, doesn't it make more sense to put our money first into feeding them, then into weighing them?"

Excellent statement!

(Found via Number 2 Pencil)

"'I've had parents fuss about a student having an hour-and-a-half detention,' he said. 'It's not popular for there to be real consequences anymore.' "

Well, of course! We're down to a tight schedule! Ballet lessons, soccer practice, karate, and piano! Groceries, dry-cleaning, manicures and haircuts! Everything is timed down to the milli-second. You want to throw that into complete disarray for a little character-building and consequences!?!

I do not have time to have my entire schedule thrown off so that you can teach my little darling some ridiculous things like respect, compassion, and personal responsibility.

Honestly, can't you see that I'm creating a future business leader here, and possibly a president?

Right.....

"Two decades later, countless companies and individuals are still paying for that mistake. "

Ya gotta luv the news.

One headline says:

"Roy Disney Forced Off Board, Wants Eisner Out "

The other:

"Roy Disney resigns, urges Eisner to follow suit"

Uh, yeah. Same thing.

And yet, as mentioned in a previous post, we have companies using resources to make turkey flavored refreshments.

Ahhhh, priorities...