hmmm i wonder if those parents would be able to whip up enough frenzy to get Bill O'Reilly to publicly call for the teacher to lose his/her job xxxxp
― ban dejar (Drugs A. Money), Thursday, 26 January 2012 16:37 (twelve years ago) link
their friend's kid went into show & tell with an apple & was told they had to give a recital of verses from the quran!
What kind of loser kid goes to show and tell with nothing more than an apple?
― Quand le déshonneur est public, il faut que la vengeance soit (Michael White), Thursday, 26 January 2012 16:38 (twelve years ago) link
Well they don't like evolution or sex ed, either, so there's probably an angle from which this is just another thing about the world they don't want their kid/s exposed to and wish to pretend doesn't exist. School a la carte.
The possibility that a public educational system might have a responsibility to educate kids equally w/r/t reality no matter what their parents think doesn't seem to have registered with the lunatic middle.
― one little aioli (Laurel), Thursday, 26 January 2012 16:39 (twelve years ago) link
i am not american, i figured you guys just picked something off the table on yr way outxp
― quick brown fox triangle (schlump), Thursday, 26 January 2012 16:40 (twelve years ago) link
English homework?! You heathens! It's Ancient Greek and Hebrew or Aramaic or nothing - he can learn to speak in tongues.
― Quand le déshonneur est public, il faut que la vengeance soit (Michael White), Thursday, 26 January 2012 16:41 (twelve years ago) link
Indeed:
Members of Tennessee tea parties presented state legislators with five priorities for action Wednesday, including “rejecting” the federal health reform act, establishing an elected “chief litigator” for the state and “educating students the truth about America.” . . . Regarding education, the material they distributed said, “Neglect and outright ill will have distorted the teaching of the history and character of the United States. We seek to compel the teaching of students in Tennessee the truth regarding the history of our nation and the nature of its government.”That would include, the documents say, that “the Constitution created a Republic, not a Democracy.”The material calls for lawmakers to amend state laws governing school curriculums, and for textbook selection criteria to say that “No portrayal of minority experience in the history which actually occurred shall obscure the experience or contributions of the Founding Fathers, or the majority of citizens, including those who reached positions of leadership.”Fayette County attorney Hal Rounds, the group’s lead spokesman during the news conference, said the group wants to address “an awful lot of made-up criticism about, for instance, the founders intruding on the Indians or having slaves or being hypocrites in one way or another.“The thing we need to focus on about the founders is that, given the social structure of their time, they were revolutionaries who brought liberty into a world where it hadn’t existed, to everybody — not all equally instantly — and it was their progress that we need to look at,” said Rounds, whose website identifies him as a Vietnam War veteran of the Air Force and FedEx retiree who became a lawyer in 1995.
. . .
Regarding education, the material they distributed said, “Neglect and outright ill will have distorted the teaching of the history and character of the United States. We seek to compel the teaching of students in Tennessee the truth regarding the history of our nation and the nature of its government.”
That would include, the documents say, that “the Constitution created a Republic, not a Democracy.”
The material calls for lawmakers to amend state laws governing school curriculums, and for textbook selection criteria to say that “No portrayal of minority experience in the history which actually occurred shall obscure the experience or contributions of the Founding Fathers, or the majority of citizens, including those who reached positions of leadership.”
Fayette County attorney Hal Rounds, the group’s lead spokesman during the news conference, said the group wants to address “an awful lot of made-up criticism about, for instance, the founders intruding on the Indians or having slaves or being hypocrites in one way or another.
“The thing we need to focus on about the founders is that, given the social structure of their time, they were revolutionaries who brought liberty into a world where it hadn’t existed, to everybody — not all equally instantly — and it was their progress that we need to look at,” said Rounds, whose website identifies him as a Vietnam War veteran of the Air Force and FedEx retiree who became a lawyer in 1995.
It's nearly impossible to describe how much this garbage pisses me off.
― You got to ro-o-oll me and call me the tumblr whites (Phil D.), Thursday, 26 January 2012 16:43 (twelve years ago) link
"made-up criticism"?????????????????????????????????
― I spend a lot of time thinking about apricots (DJP), Thursday, 26 January 2012 16:45 (twelve years ago) link
it was just a little slavery
― Full Frontal Newtity (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 26 January 2012 16:48 (twelve years ago) link
"not all equally instantly." I mean the fucking zen koan beauty of that is just . . .
― You got to ro-o-oll me and call me the tumblr whites (Phil D.), Thursday, 26 January 2012 16:49 (twelve years ago) link
"Look, the Indians weren't even USING that land, so how much of an intrusion was it, really?"
how does he reconcile equally instant equality with slavery
― I spend a lot of time thinking about apricots (DJP), Thursday, 26 January 2012 16:52 (twelve years ago) link
And as if on cue:
Veto override gives parents more control over what their kids are taught
CONCORD - The Legislature has passed a controversial bill that would give parents greater control over course materials taught in schools.Both the House and Senate voted to override the governor's veto of HB 542, which requires school districts to adopt policies to allow "an exception to specific course material based on a parent's or legal guardian's determination that the material is objectionable."The House failed in an attempt in to override the veto in its last session in November. But after voting to reconsider the measure, the House passed the override on Wednesday 255 to 122, meeting the two-thirds requirement.The Senate then voted 17-5 to override the governor.The bill was inspired by a controversy at Bedford High School, where parents of a student objected to the book, “Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By In America.”
Both the House and Senate voted to override the governor's veto of HB 542, which requires school districts to adopt policies to allow "an exception to specific course material based on a parent's or legal guardian's determination that the material is objectionable."
The House failed in an attempt in to override the veto in its last session in November. But after voting to reconsider the measure, the House passed the override on Wednesday 255 to 122, meeting the two-thirds requirement.
The Senate then voted 17-5 to override the governor.
The bill was inspired by a controversy at Bedford High School, where parents of a student objected to the book, “Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By In America.”
That's a great fucking book and should be required reading in every HS social science curriculum btw.
― You got to ro-o-oll me and call me the tumblr whites (Phil D.), Thursday, 26 January 2012 16:55 (twelve years ago) link
I frankly think of that as not only anti-social but it could lead to something akin to child-endangerment.
― Quand le déshonneur est public, il faut que la vengeance soit (Michael White), Thursday, 26 January 2012 17:07 (twelve years ago) link
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xJWa77A8OSw/S-Cu-hNCliI/AAAAAAAAFnU/gPKnqDRjazA/s1600/calvinmath2.jpg
― (The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Thursday, 26 January 2012 17:40 (twelve years ago) link
does this jan brewer finger pointing at elitist thin skinned petulant kenyan president work on anyone other than lizard brain gop folk?
― strongly recommend. unless you're a bitch (mayor jingleberries), Thursday, 26 January 2012 19:19 (twelve years ago) link
no
― I spend a lot of time thinking about apricots (DJP), Thursday, 26 January 2012 19:20 (twelve years ago) link
I love that he's the divider.
― Quand le déshonneur est public, il faut que la vengeance soit (Michael White), Thursday, 26 January 2012 19:25 (twelve years ago) link
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/01/obamas-strategic-tarmac-attack.html
President Obama’s people have portrayed his tarmac confrontation with Arizona's Jan Brewer as a kind of accidental blowup stemming from his pique that her book allegedly misrepresented a private conversation they had. If it’s an accident, though, it’s a pretty fortuitous one.
Arizona is one of the few states Obama lost in 2008 where his campaign thinks it can compete in 2012. He’s no longer running against a favorite son, and the fast-growing Latino population might give him a shot. But in Arizona, and elsewhere, Obama need to energize Latinos, who tend to vote at low rates.
The Republican strategy is sort of a miniature version of their broader legislative strategy. Republicans, along with a handful of conservative Democrats, blocked comprehensive immigration reform and then blocked even the modest DREAM Act, and their message is that Latinos should vote for them because Obama failed to carry out his campaign promise to pass those bills. It’s actually quite clever.
Since Obama can’t get anything passed through Congress, one option is to simply clarify that he opposes the GOP’s most draconian elements. So: A public shouting match with a governor who’s unpopular with Arizonans in general and despised by Latinos. (Her job approval with Arizona Latinos is minus 40.)
An accident? I doubt it.
― Critique of Pure Moods (goole), Thursday, 26 January 2012 19:29 (twelve years ago) link
(Her job approval with Arizona Latinos is minus 40.)
lolizona
― Full Frontal Newtity (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 26 January 2012 19:33 (twelve years ago) link
stupid people tend to be conservative lol
altho I don't trust IQ tests as a measure of anything whatsoever and iirc not too many people here do
― Full Frontal Newtity (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 26 January 2012 20:01 (twelve years ago) link
i was just about to post that, with a similar caution
― tebow gotti (k3vin k.), Thursday, 26 January 2012 20:08 (twelve years ago) link
3,710 comments
o_O
― Critique of Pure Moods (goole), Thursday, 26 January 2012 20:09 (twelve years ago) link
enh, afaik IQ tests are vastly different than the (funnily, in this case) racist/classist/etc tests of old
i had one recently as part of a neuropsych evaluation and it was a lot more about mensa-style problem solving and less about cultural literacy and the like
point being: i am quite happy to accept the relevance of IQ tests if it means i get to call conservatives stupid
― i love pinfold cricket (gbx), Thursday, 26 January 2012 20:09 (twelve years ago) link
Trolling my bro-in-law in the "conservatives are too stupid to make me a grilled cheese sandwich, much less govern a city, state or nation" is the only thing that manages to shake him from his usual calm. Which is obviously catnip to me.
― "Blue" Meme Tyranny (WmC), Thursday, 26 January 2012 20:16 (twelve years ago) link
My nephew was a senior in high school in North Carolina during the 2008 election season. They had a mock debate in his civcs class in which my nephew was assigned the role of Obama, another student was McCain, and the teacher was the moderator.
My nephew supported McCain/Palin and wound up voting for them (argh) but in the role of Obama, one of his arguments was that Palin lacked experience. His teacher - the moderator - cut him off and lectured the class about how scary it was that Obama, who was likely a Muslim, was willing to negotiate w/ terrorists and how Palin's experience as governor made her more qualified than BHO. When they resumed the debate, my nephew was instructed to make clear that he was saying only what the other side would probably say.
― Je55e, Friday, 27 January 2012 18:59 (twelve years ago) link
good luck usa
― WARS OF ARMAGEDDON (Karaoke Version) (Sparkle Motion), Friday, 27 January 2012 19:22 (twelve years ago) link
I suppose if we all get to call conservatives stupid based on that study, then we might have to swallow The Bell Curve, too. I prefer to call some of their ideas stupid based on the thought process by which they arrived at them and the arguments used to defend them. Much less of a mine field.
― Aimless, Friday, 27 January 2012 19:49 (twelve years ago) link
over 24,000 now
― mookieproof, Friday, 27 January 2012 19:53 (twelve years ago) link
mental!
― Critique of Pure Moods (goole), Friday, 27 January 2012 19:59 (twelve years ago) link
Panetta confirms use of Stalinism vs "terrorism"
http://www.salon.com/2012/01/30/leon_panettas_explicitly_authoritarian_decree/singleton/
― Literal Facepalms (Dr Morbius), Monday, 30 January 2012 15:12 (twelve years ago) link
Another Congressional Democratic compromise
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/unions-set-to-blast-dems-for-selling-out-on-faa-reauthorization/2012/01/30/gIQAeH9pcQ_blog.html
― curmudgeon, Monday, 30 January 2012 20:56 (twelve years ago) link
oh no not a strongly worded letter!
― Full Frontal Newtity (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 30 January 2012 20:59 (twelve years ago) link
Norquist probably won't have to resort to this:
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/01/29/414010/norquist-republicans-will-impeach-obama-if-he-doesnt-extend-bush-tax-cuts/?mobile=nc
― curmudgeon, Monday, 30 January 2012 21:19 (twelve years ago) link
lol they won't have the votes by then
― Full Frontal Newtity (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 30 January 2012 21:24 (twelve years ago) link
Some fellow defends drone strikes.
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 31 January 2012 11:01 (twelve years ago) link
Greenwald will be mocking that, if he has not already.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 31 January 2012 20:34 (twelve years ago) link
Big New Yorker piece based on internal White House memos and such on the failure of Obama's attempt to be "post-partisan"
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/01/30/120130fa_fact_lizza?currentPage=all
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 31 January 2012 20:35 (twelve years ago) link
4 out of 13 ain't bad i guess
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16806006
― tebow gotti (k3vin k.), Tuesday, 31 January 2012 20:46 (twelve years ago) link
great news, everybody!
The nation's leading breast-cancer charity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, is halting its partnerships with Planned Parenthood affiliates — creating a bitter rift, linked to the abortion debate, between two iconic organizations that have assisted millions of women.
The change will mean a cutoff of hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants, mainly for breast exams.
http://www.npr.org/2012/01/31/146160911/susan-g-komen-halts-grants-to-planned-parenthood
― bnw, Tuesday, 31 January 2012 23:02 (twelve years ago) link
i need to read up on that, seems truly gross.
but on first glance "hundreds of thousands of dollars" doesn't seem like a whole lot of money
― Critique of Pure Moods (goole), Wednesday, 1 February 2012 00:00 (twelve years ago) link
It's blowing up all over Twitter and the feminist blogs I read. And even beyond the money, it's the kowtowing to right-wing bullying that's pissing people off. It's going to be an absolute PR disaster for Komen, and why organizations insist on scoring own-goals like this for no legitimate reason whatsoever is a mystery.
― You got to ro-o-oll me and call me the tumblr whites (Phil D.), Wednesday, 1 February 2012 01:03 (twelve years ago) link
Susan G Koman is such a fraud anyway.
http://www.naturalnews.com/033783_Komen_for_the_Cure_pinkwashing.html
http://www.marieclaire.com/world-reports/news/breast-cancer-business-scams
― gnome (remy bean), Wednesday, 1 February 2012 01:11 (twelve years ago) link
"How come no research into mega-dose IV vitamin C for cancer? There are studies proving its efficacy. Hey Komen, how come you haven't consulted with TV star Suzanne Somers about her breast cancer cure from European mistletoe extract injections? She wrote a bestseller about it."
?
― dead precedents politics as usual (Hunt3r), Wednesday, 1 February 2012 04:17 (twelve years ago) link
i need to read up on that, seems truly gross.but on first glance "hundreds of thousands of dollars" doesn't seem like a whole lot of money
Interesting, "gross" is how other FB and Twitter friends have described it. OTM description.
I didn't renown before today that Santorum claims that abortions cause breast cancer, which, what the fucking christ.
― garbage corn fan (Je55e), Wednesday, 1 February 2012 05:55 (twelve years ago) link
Oh yeah, that's been a huge - and, obvs, widely debunked - anti-choicer talking point for a few years now.
After the Komen news broke yesterday left blogger TBogg tweeted: "Tomorrow should see a wave of links to discredited studies asserting that abortion causes breast cancer. #justmakingshitup"
― You got to ro-o-oll me and call me the tumblr whites (Phil D.), Wednesday, 1 February 2012 10:29 (twelve years ago) link
He also suggests:
We’ve done this before, but you can make a donation to Planned Parenthood and request a thank you card be sent toKaren HandelSenior VP of Failc/o Susan G. Komen FoundationP.O. Box 650309Dallas, TX 75265-0309(UPDATE) From a reader:Hi TBogg,Just made a donation of 50 clams, but I would have loved to have gifted it to Karen Handel as you suggested in your post. maybe you could update the post to let people know that they need to do it as an “Honorary Giving” rather than a “One Time Gift”, which doesn’t offer the choice to send a card
Karen HandelSenior VP of Failc/o Susan G. Komen FoundationP.O. Box 650309Dallas, TX 75265-0309
(UPDATE) From a reader:
Hi TBogg,
Just made a donation of 50 clams, but I would have loved to have gifted it to Karen Handel as you suggested in your post. maybe you could update the post to let people know that they need to do it as an “Honorary Giving” rather than a “One Time Gift”, which doesn’t offer the choice to send a card
― You got to ro-o-oll me and call me the tumblr whites (Phil D.), Wednesday, 1 February 2012 10:31 (twelve years ago) link
― garbage corn fan (Je55e), Wednesday, 1 February 2012 05:55 (5 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
fwiw the backstory with this is that there are studies suggesting that while you're pregnant, your susceptibility to breast cancer decreases; therefore, in stopping being pregnant - having an abortion - your likelihood of getting cancer reverts to its pre-pregnancy norm. it was a cheap kinda conspiracy theory for quite a while but afaik had sorta fallen out of use; as well as obviously not being a causal thing, the key issue w/it is that it concerns the same 'risk' that one inherits by a) just not getting pregnant or b) having a baby
― quick brown fox triangle (schlump), Wednesday, 1 February 2012 11:09 (twelve years ago) link
a spin on the new Obama task force that NY attorney General Schneiderman will be involved with, investigating fraudulent mortgage practices (Schneiderman, and the California and Delaware AGs had resisted the Obama effort to reach a quick settlement)
For three years, the Obama administration had not wished to pursue such a course. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner did not want to subject Wall Street to this kind of poking around through its records, much less to prosecutions that could compel major banks to be restructured. But over the past year, as Schneiderman hung tough, the political winds shifted.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/eric-schneiderman-new-york-ag-shaped-drive-to-hold-banks-accountable/2012/01/30/gIQAjWxCgQ_story.html
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 1 February 2012 16:07 (twelve years ago) link
I need coffee because at first I was all "why did his parents name him General"
― I spend a lot of time thinking about apricots (DJP), Wednesday, 1 February 2012 16:09 (twelve years ago) link
like Sargent Shriver?
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 1 February 2012 16:10 (twelve years ago) link