In Maureen Dowd's defense (and I can't believe I said that), she was playing off a big article the NYT just did about the resurgence of latin in popularity in public schools.

Also, I vaguely tangentially know the guy who did the latin part of the article.

Well, good thoughts headed her way and teaching/patience ~ma for you, sweetie.

So much this, Pix, so much this.

:putting on my cranky bloomers and ranting:
All day I looked forward to having sushi for dinner and my day ruined the plan. I have resorted to the comfort of mac 'n cheese.

I hate the FCAT. It is evil and must be destroyed.

Teenage drama makes my job a nightmare. Drama in Drama is more than anyone can take. Hopefully tomorrow they will be "best friends" again and I can get everyone working.

DD yelled at kids today for having fun and decorating the front office for Halloween. He needs to be destroyed with the FCAT. (bonfire???)

There is a pervasive rumor going around, and heard from reliable sources, that next year we will not have planning periods at all but will teach 8 blocks all year, 4 per semester. The county sees this as a way to save LOTS of money. Plus they think it is working so well right now with the high school teachers teaching 7 blocks.

I want a job where I can read Buffista's during the day and talk about such wonderful subjects as grilled cheese, apples and cheese and the upcoming election.

I need a pedicure and don't have the time for one.

Hub's new job is great as far as being a day job, no weekends and manager title. He isn't making any more than he did as an operator at the coal plant and had a bad day today. His boss hasn't given him an indication when he can expect a raise and he found out today that the other guys doing the same job are only at mid-point on the pay scale. He can't get a solid answer on how to get a raise and how quickly he can expect to top the scale. He's doubting his decission to do the job and if he should go back on shift.

Exams are next week and the school expects us to call home on every student making a D or F and fill in a call log, that will be turned in. I teach Intensive English 3. The kids have low skills and many don't want to come to school. The calls would have to be made at 7am or after 3 plus if I do this at home I'll have to use my own cell phone.

I should do paperwork tonight as it never seems to go away. I'm too spun up from the day. Plus I really want to watch 'Chuck' as it amuses me to no end.

sorry for ranting and unloading.

/rant...but I'm leaving on my cranky bloomers...

The county sees this as a way to save LOTS of money.

And lose a lot of teachers? That sounds crazy.

And lose a lot of teachers? That sounds crazy.

They don't care. It it crazy, this has become the norm for this county.

Didn't make it. Won't get in until after 11 and have to be at work by 8:30. Grump

Mac is vowing not to sleep on the plane.

Mac is vowing not to sleep on the plane.

That'll teach the airlines a lesson!

Someone on my Facebook friends just posted this video, a clip of a speech this summer from the Secretary Treasurer of the AFL-CIO to the Steelworkers Union on Obama and race.

[link]

After all the ugliness that's been going around the past week or so and the truly scary and disgusting turn things have taken in some quarters, this should be required viewing. Fantastic.

So last week I discovered my vcr remote died, and I can't get the universal to program it. Tonight, I discovered my vcr is dying. Squealing and fried picture.

I'll have to decide what to replace it with. I'm not going tivo route, something cheaper.

Sara, I'd look on your local freecycle or craigslist. I have seen free vcrs and cheap dvd players. I got my tivo for free, but then you have to pay for the service.

Latin??? Seriously??? FAIL.

My mother loved Latin.

I should clarify; I wasn't dissing Latin, or the study of same; I just think that if the NYT wants to hang on to any illusion it has about being The Paper of Record, it should be accessible to a lot more people, and I just don't think pretentious, self-congratulatory op-eds partially in Latin are the way to do that.

It was a new type of tl;dr for me.