Also, if my new landlord asks me how things are going in my new place, should I tell him about the noise, or is it more polite/fair to ask the guy to be quiet first before telling the landlord?

Something like [link] might be an option for you, aurelia.

Thanks. Really all I want is a VCR that has a hard drive instead of tapes. My needs are simple.

I don't actually use the Mac clone anymore and my laptop is usually at work with me when my shows are on.

I think a simple "Would you mind keeping it down after 10?" would suffice. And if the problem persists, contact your landlord.

Well when you put it like that it sounds so simple.

I guess my college experience has left me fearful of retaliation - you know, that things will get worse instead of better. But my college wingmates were crazy people....

Now Gud, you're making it sound like weak Public Schools could be helped by throwing money at them. Everyone knows that isn't true.

I think it's a complex problem, but yeah, I don't think you can overlook that wealthier communities tend to have a lot better public schools. If you have a mismanaged school district though, money probably won't help much and some places manage to outperform their resources.

I get annoyed when people talk about the public schools being a disaster. They go from awesome to disaster depending where you look.

I went to very good public schools in a healthily middle-class town. They're still solid, but I've watched even them bowing under pressure to teach to the endless tests. You know, for the 'standards'.

That's where my paranoia kicks in... Why are you messing with good schools? Which Bushie is making money off of this?

Well when you put it like that it sounds so simple.

I guess my college experience has left me fearful of retaliation - you know, that things will get worse instead of better. But my college wingmates were crazy people....

Heh. Yes. But now you have a landlord to complain to. I think it's fine to go to the guy downstairs first before mentioning it to the landlord, though.

I'm going to repost this down the thread.

I am not a teacher, but I'd say that along with the money in wealthier districts, you also are more likely to have parents who went to college and have the resources to be actively engaged in their childrens' education.

Yeah, I think under-performing school districts are an onion of a problem.

Is there like a standard time when loud music becomes unacceptable? I would think it should be 9:00 rather than 10:00, but in the last year or two I've been going to bed earlier than I used to... anyway I don't know what the norm is. Usually I turn my music or TV down at 9:00 and down some more at 10:00.

I said something to a coworker about how Peter Jennings was always my anchorman boyfriend. She said she hated him. Why? Because he was biased because he dated Hanan Ashrawi. In the 70s! She just automatically hates anything with any connection to Palestine, because she's Jewish.

Aw. I thought it was going to be because he's Canadian.

Brian Williams is my favorite anchorman because he's hilarious on The Daily Show.

I like him because we like the same bands (but I think he's more up on bands than I am): [link]

Be next week, I should have my last credit card paid off, and I will be totally debt-free for the first time in my adult life.

I finally achieved that about a month or so ago. (Except the mortgage.) It's really great. But I am sure it will go all to hell with upcoming trip and Xmas shopping.