For Silvan

"Silvan" wrote in message

> Renee's in the hospital. They did a gallbladder ultrasound on her about
> three weeks ago, and took a wait and see attitude. Said she had a few
> small stones, but would probably be fine for months or years. She keeled
> over at work today. Any damn thing but fine.

Sorry to hear that. My Linda is one of the sweetest, most gentle creatures
on the face of the earth, but on the trip to the hospital at 3 AM for an
emergency gallbladder operation, I heard some language from her that would
make a sailor blush ... that was one of the keys to me knowing without a
doubt that "this is serious".

> Sorry I'm babbling. I haven't quite figured out what to do with myself
yet.
> I can hold down the fort, and the boss has already figured out some way to
> do without me the rest of the week (which probably means he's driving in
my
> stead), but I'm really out of sorts without her here. Eleven years, and
> while I regularly sleep alone on the road, I have never slept alone in my
> house, except, probably I guess when the kids were born. It's eerie here
> now, even though normally she would just be in the other room asleep
> anyway. There's just something not right about knowing she's across the
> way in the Sugar Juice Hotel being taken care of by complete strangers.
> Hey, I know Dave in Fairfax is one of those complete strangers, in a
manner
> of speaking. I'm not putting down nurses. Still, it's MY job. I took
> care of her when she puked all over herself today. I sat by her bedside
> for seven tedious hours watching her sleep. It's my job. But I can't be
> in two places at once, and I had to come home and put my kids to bed.
> That's my job too. I've just never been torn like this.
>
> Ugh. Flowers first thing in the morning, and then I guess I just have to
> play it by ear.

Keep your chin up ... you'll both do fine and come out the other side.

Things like never happen at a convenient time. I had a full, 6 member band
due in the studio for a weeks recording, _flying_ in from all over the WORLD
at huge cost, at 9 AM that same very morning ... and a kid still in middle
school.

The kid didn't miss a minute of school, and said band was never even aware
that my wife was in the hospital while they recorded a complete album in the
next five days... who needs sleep?

Both of you are in our prayers ...

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/04

WOW! Someone who has read a dictionary and learned a new word - obtuse!
Yes, they mean that our kids are smarter than kids in other states,
and other districts within the state itself, which is pure horseshit.
We dumb down our kids by training them to take the test, we teach 'to'
the test. A fair percentage of our teachers are allowed to teach even
though they too have been dumbed down by allowing them to not pass the
state exam at the rate required by law. They can teach even though
their own test scores are at 60%. When idiots are allowed to teach,
they typically produce idiots.

As for 'average', NM is normally in the last few percentiles of damned
near everything that has rankings. The records we set are records
others would be ashamed of. Many of the professors, doctorates and
other brainy people we have in the labs, nuclear facilities and soon to
be rather large aerospace industry are more often than not transplants
from elsewhere. Locals do serve a useful purpose though, they clean
these people houses and serve them fast food lunches. Wudju like fries
with that order essa?

John

Robert Galloway wrote:

> Come on. Don't appear obtuse. When a state school system says their
> kids test above average, they're saying that the "average" of New Mexico
> kids are above the "average" of all the other states. Am I totally
> missing something?
>
> bob g.
>
> John DeBoo wrote:
>
>> Tim Douglass wrote:
>>
>>> On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 10:14:17 -0600, Morris Dovey <[email protected]>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> Both of you guys are correct. Neither of you are right. Half of all
>>>> teachers are above average, half are below.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Actually, mathematically, it is possible that all but one are below
>>> average. Not likely, but it *is* possible.
>>>
>>> Tim Douglass
>>
>>
>>
>> So true, in MN we're constantly told that the Albuquerque Public
>> School kids test above average. What a vessel of bovine fecal
>> material! If they are all above, then who the hell is below? Someone
>> has to be, unless some of the Educrats *NEW* fuzzy math is at work
>> here. One plus one equals three (depending upon the density of one)!
>> John

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 10:14:17 -0600, Morris Dovey <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Both of you guys are correct. Neither of you are right. Half of
>all teachers are above average, half are below.

Actually, mathematically, it is possible that all but one are below
average. Not likely, but it *is* possible.

Tim Douglass

http://www.DouglassClan.com

Mark & Juanita wrote:
> On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 12:18:41 -0600, "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>"John DeBoo" wrote in message
>>
>>
>>>Their "Professional" goal is to push as many kids as possible into
>>>McJobs for the rest of their lives.
>>
>>Boy howdy! ... you hit the nail smack dab on the head with that (OBWW).
>>
>>There was an "initiative" by the educrats hereabouts a couple of years ago
>>to "key" primary education directly to the _needs_ of the
>>corporate/business sector.
>>
>
>
> It all depends upon what was meant by the initiative. In the case of the
> company I work for, such an initiative would have the schools focus on
> math, the physical sciences and technology skills -- a far cry from
> hamburger flippin'.

There's been talk of the same in NM, however what little industry we do
have doesn't tend to remain long - except call cneters, and thats not
really an industry. Its not NM that causes that, its the nature of many
businesses today, here today, gone tomorrow.

The reason for tailor making the workers to the local industry here
isn't so people can make a decent living, its so that people don't pull
up stakes and leave NM. If they do all that'll be left is retirees. If
that happens, who will the politicians scam for money?

John

Another "twit" blaming teachers.
Charlie Self wrote:
> My wife informs me, information via oldest daughter who teaches Latin
in
> Bedford, that the starting salary for teachers in Bedford County now
30 grand.
>
> Given the living costs here, that's an admirable price to pay, though
I'll bet
> they still hire a fair share of twits and incompetents.
>
> Charlie Self
> "He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."
Sir Winston
> Churchill

"I'll bet they still hire a fair share of twits and incompetents."

Only a "twit" would make a comment like this about teachers. Education
is one the most difficult and underpayed proffesions out there. Before
you make ignorant statements I'd like to see you spend eight hours with
160 kids and deal with their self rightous parents for 30 grand a year.
Then you might rethink your stupid unrelevent comments.

To the rest of you I apologize for degressing. My wife is an English
teacher and it is this kind of mentality that is destroying our
schools. NOT THE TEACHERS!!!
Charlie Self wrote:
> My wife informs me, information via oldest daughter who teaches Latin
in
> Bedford, that the starting salary for teachers in Bedford County now
30 grand.
>
> Given the living costs here, that's an admirable price to pay, though
I'll bet
> they still hire a fair share of twits and incompetents.
>
> Charlie Self
> "He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."
Sir Winston
> Churchill

Charlie Self wrote:
> My wife informs me, information via oldest daughter who teaches Latin
in
> Bedford, that the starting salary for teachers in Bedford County now
30 grand.
>
> Given the living costs here, that's an admirable price to pay, though
I'll bet
> they still hire a fair share of twits and incompetents.
>
> Charlie Self
> "He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."
Sir Winston
> Churchill

Is there anything you're not an expert on?

You know it's sad that these people bow down to you because you've
published. Sadly, the only place you're published now is here. Didn't
Woodcraft fire you because you were an incompetent twit?

Why don't you go in the shop (if you even have one) and do some actual
woodworking, you scott phillips wannabe.

FOAD,
Rich

On 14 Dec 2004 15:27:16 -0800, "srwood" <[email protected]> calmly
ranted:

>"I'll bet they still hire a fair share of twits and incompetents."
>
>Only a "twit" would make a comment like this about teachers. Education
>is one the most difficult and underpayed proffesions out there. Before
>you make ignorant statements I'd like to see you spend eight hours with
>160 kids and deal with their self rightous parents for 30 grand a year.
>Then you might rethink your stupid unrelevent comments.

OK, Teach. Here you go. You get a C- for your essay.

Please remember these proper spellings of the words you misspelled:
underpaid, professions, self-righteous, and irrelevant.


>To the rest of you I apologize for degressing. My wife is an English
>teacher and it is this kind of mentality that is destroying our
>schools. NOT THE TEACHERS!!!

And it's "digressing", Mr. Twit. Show your work to your wife and
watch her turn 8 shades of red. Please have her add the proper
amount of punctuation while she's at it. She'll slap you upside
the head for standing up for her in this manner, I betcha.

Some people's kids, I swear. ;)

--
"Most Folks Are As Happy As They Make Up Their Minds To Be"
-Abraham Lincoln
-----------------------------------------------------------
www.diversify.com - Happy Website Development

Charlie Self wrote:

> My wife informs me, information via oldest daughter who teaches Latin in
> Bedford, that the starting salary for teachers in Bedford County now 30
> grand.

Thanks for the note. Sorry you stirred up so much shit in so doing.

I need to talk to my friend, who gets paid just that to be the electrician
who maintains all the schools in the county.

He's a fun friend to have around. I think a couple three cases of Miller
Lite and cost of materials and I can swap out my Federal Pacific panel.

He gets the beer AFTER. :)

Of course, not right now, or anything in the forseeable future I don't
imagine. I'm glad I bought that wood when I did, because there won't be
any more wood for a long time. (It's a good thing that I've put it in the
house to sit, and I've seen some big cracks open up on the ends in the last
two days, right? Better to find out now than after I cut into them? Will
this decrease the chances of something ugly happening, or is there probably
still stress in the parts that haven't cracked?)

Renee's in the hospital. They did a gallbladder ultrasound on her about
three weeks ago, and took a wait and see attitude. Said she had a few
small stones, but would probably be fine for months or years. She keeled
over at work today. Any damn thing but fine.

Pancreas, liver, all screwed up. She's in the hospital for at least 48
hours on an IV diet trying to get her guts to "cool off" so they can take
out her gallbladder. Whateverthehell THAT means. "Cool off." They were
heavy on euphemisms and vague on details. I don't quite understand what's
going wrong with her. I thought it was absolutely spectacular when some
medico (doctor, nurse, specialist? I didn't really notice who was who)
came in and told her "You look like shit!" Fabulous.

Yeehaw. We were trying to see if we could wait on the medical bills, which
is why we were so quick to accept the doc's recommendation to wait and see
(since she wasn't in pain, and hadn't been for a few days), but that plan
just backfired bigtime. Wish she had had the damn thing out three weeks
ago. Would have been cheaper to pay for the surgery without three days in
the hospital to go with it. I imagine it probably costs a grand a day for
luxurious accommodations in the most posh establishment in town. I hear
their glucose is delicious.

Bah humbug.

The bright side is that I'm already starting to worry about the money, which
means I'm no longer quite so worried about her. She's just sleeping now,
and if she doesn't eat anything, all the gut wrenching pain and nausea
should be behind her. She's probably not going to be too happy after three
days without a drink, but I think she'll come through this OK. One thing
about her naturally lethargic, supine, couch-aphilic nature is that she
doesn't really have a problem with the idea of having to lay around and
sleep all day. She loves to lay around and sleep all day. That woman can
do some sleeping. She works hard when she has to, and when she doesn't
have to work, she sleeps.

Better her than me on that, as much as I hate to say something like that. I
don't wish this on anyone, but I guess if one of us has to spend two days
doing nothing but drinking through a hole in the arm and sleeping, it's
better her than me. She sleeps a lot. She'll sleep through most of this
without a thought. I OTOH have always got to be doing something. Writing,
touching, feeling, playing, thinking, reading, SOMETHING. If I can't find
some of the above to do, I get bored and fall asleep, and sleeping is a big
waste of time. If I had to go through what she's going through now, I
would go absolutely NUTS. Nothing to do for two days but watch cable TV
and sleep? I had to do that once, when my truck broke down, and I had to
sit in a motel while they fixed my head gasket. I wasn't bedridden, and I
wasn't proscribed from eating, but just having noting to do but sleep and
watch TV for two days drove me so nuts that I have vowed to never, ever
even remotely hint of straying from the straight and narrow path, because
that's what jail would be like. After two days in jail, I'd be ready to
hang myself just to have something to do.

Sorry I'm babbling. I haven't quite figured out what to do with myself yet.
I can hold down the fort, and the boss has already figured out some way to
do without me the rest of the week (which probably means he's driving in my
stead), but I'm really out of sorts without her here. Eleven years, and
while I regularly sleep alone on the road, I have never slept alone in my
house, except, probably I guess when the kids were born. It's eerie here
now, even though normally she would just be in the other room asleep
anyway. There's just something not right about knowing she's across the
way in the Sugar Juice Hotel being taken care of by complete strangers.
Hey, I know Dave in Fairfax is one of those complete strangers, in a manner
of speaking. I'm not putting down nurses. Still, it's MY job. I took
care of her when she puked all over herself today. I sat by her bedside
for seven tedious hours watching her sleep. It's my job. But I can't be
in two places at once, and I had to come home and put my kids to bed.
That's my job too. I've just never been torn like this.

Ugh. Flowers first thing in the morning, and then I guess I just have to
play it by ear.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
http://rosegarden.sourceforge.net/tutorial/

Tim Daneliuk wrote:

> http://www.zone101.com/LearningZone/MathZones/theory/grade6/meanmode.htm

My son did that stuff in third grade.

I was too stupid to help him with his math homework, but, fortunately, he's
smarter than I am.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
http://rosegarden.sourceforge.net/tutorial/

Swingman wrote:

> Sorry to hear that. My Linda is one of the sweetest, most gentle creatures
> on the face of the earth, but on the trip to the hospital at 3 AM for an
> emergency gallbladder operation, I heard some language from her that would
> make a sailor blush ... that was one of the keys to me knowing without a
> doubt that "this is serious".

Hoo boy, you shouldda heard Renee in child birth. She'dda made the sailors
pass out. She didn't produce such a ceaseless stream of obscenity this
time around, which is really actually encouraging. :)

They might let her out tomorrow, depending. She's about 10,000% better off
than yesterday.

> Keep your chin up ... you'll both do fine and come out the other side.

I miss her though. I mean sure, we're getting on and stuff, but I'll be
glad when she's home. There's laundry to be done, and dishes, and
cleaning.

(I gotta get all that crap done before she gets home! I want her to just
kick back and not have to worry about anything for a few days. I want her
to make sure the doc writes out that excuse to take her through Christmas
too. She has sick hours up the wazoo, and if she ever had any call to use
them, this is surely it.)

> Things like never happen at a convenient time. I had a full, 6 member band
> due in the studio for a weeks recording, _flying_ in from all over the
> WORLD at huge cost, at 9 AM that same very morning ... and a kid still in
> middle school.

I'm really debating whether to try to juggle both kids in two different
floats in the Christmas parade. My wife would have done it, but I'm half
the woman she is. It's a logistical nightmare. Under the circumstances, I
don't think anyone would particularly notice if we decided to bail.

> Both of you are in our prayers ...

We appreciate it.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
http://rosegarden.sourceforge.net/tutorial/

Morris Dovey wrote:

> Good time to get into the shop (you can't spend /all/ your time
> at the hospital!) and make some small (but beautiful) Welcome
> Home gift. Something to express love and keep mind and hands busy.

Maybe turn her some kind of urn for her gallstones. :) I just talked to my
MIL a bit ago, and she has her own gallstones floating around in her house
somewhere. Has had them in a jar or whatnot since '65 or so. So this is
actually an idea.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
http://rosegarden.sourceforge.net/tutorial/

Mark Jerde wrote:

> Wow, hope everything is ok. I haven't been keeping up with

So far, so good. She's home. She's getting ready to go shopping. I'd say
that means the prognosis is good. :)

> rec.wooddorking
> for a few days, my laptop failed the BB gun test. See the abpw thread
> "OT: Messed Up Laptop"

I can't get ABPW, and that usenet replayer site doesn't seem to work
correctly from my Linux web browser or something. None of the pictures
people here tell me to look for are ever there, so I've given up bothering
to even try.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
http://rosegarden.sourceforge.net/tutorial/

[email protected] wrote:

> www.delorie.com/wood

Cool! Thanks!

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
http://rosegarden.sourceforge.net/tutorial/

On 14 Dec 2004 15:27:16 -0800, "srwood" <[email protected]> wrote:

>"I'll bet they still hire a fair share of twits and incompetents."
>
>Only a "twit" would make a comment like this about teachers.

Or someone who had been a teacher or been around a lot of teachers. My
wife was a teacher for seven years in an inner city school. She has a
_lot_ to say about twits and incompetents who taught there.

Having been in some of those classrooms as a volunteer demonstrator of
various things, I believe she's right.

> Education
>is one the most difficult and underpayed proffesions

And your wife is an English teacher?

> out there. Before
>you make ignorant statements I'd like to see you spend eight hours with
>160 kids and deal with their self rightous parents for 30 grand a year.
>Then you might rethink your stupid unrelevent comments.

The word is 'irrelevant' unless you're trying to make a distinction
which isn't found in Fowler's.

>To the rest of you I apologize for degressing. My wife is an English
>teacher and it is this kind of mentality that is destroying our
>schools. NOT THE TEACHERS!!!

A lot of things are destroying our schools -- including policies and
conditions that drive out good teachers and leave the field to twits
and incompetents.

--RC


>Charlie Self wrote:
>> My wife informs me, information via oldest daughter who teaches Latin
>in
>> Bedford, that the starting salary for teachers in Bedford County now
>30 grand.
>>
>> Given the living costs here, that's an admirable price to pay, though
>I'll bet
>> they still hire a fair share of twits and incompetents.
>>
>> Charlie Self
>> "He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."
>Sir Winston
>> Churchill

Projects expand to fill the clamps available -- plus 20 percent

"Tim Douglass" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 10:14:17 -0600, Morris Dovey <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >Both of you guys are correct. Neither of you are right. Half of
> >all teachers are above average, half are below.
>
> Actually, mathematically, it is possible that all but one are below
> average. Not likely, but it *is* possible.
>

Ayup. Now, if you compare to other college "graduates," you'll get a real
enlightenment.

www.delorie.com/wood has archives of the binaries.

On Sat, 18 Dec 2004 11:12:11 -0500, Silvan
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I can't get ABPW, and that usenet replayer site doesn't seem to work
>correctly from my Linux web browser or something. None of the pictures
>people here tell me to look for are ever there, so I've given up bothering
>to even try.

patrick conroy wrote:

> "Morris Dovey" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>
>>Both of you guys are correct. Neither of you are right. Half of
>>all teachers are above average, half are below.
>
>
> Uhhhh - are you sure?
> Isn't that the median? :)
>
>

http://www.zone101.com/LearningZone/MathZones/theory/grade6/meanmode.htm

--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim Daneliuk [email protected]
PGP Key: http://www.tundraware.com/PGP/

On 14 Dec 2004 15:27:16 -0800, "srwood" <[email protected]> wrote:

>"I'll bet they still hire a fair share of twits and incompetents."
>
>Only a "twit" would make a comment like this about teachers. Education
>is one the most difficult and underpayed proffesions out there. Before
>you make ignorant statements I'd like to see you spend eight hours with
>160 kids and deal with their self rightous parents for 30 grand a year.
>Then you might rethink your stupid unrelevent comments.
>
>To the rest of you I apologize for degressing. My wife is an English
>teacher and it is this kind of mentality that is destroying our
>schools. NOT THE TEACHERS!!!
>Charlie Self wrote:
>> My wife informs me, information via oldest daughter who teaches Latin
>in
>> Bedford, that the starting salary for teachers in Bedford County now
>30 grand.
>>
>> Given the living costs here, that's an admirable price to pay, though
>I'll bet
>> they still hire a fair share of twits and incompetents.
>>
>> Charlie Self
>> "He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."
>Sir Winston
>> Churchill

so, all teachers are great and none of them are twits?

wow.. must be a perfect world, what color is the sky in it?

"John DeBoo" wrote in message

> Their "Professional" goal is to push as many kids as possible into
> McJobs for the rest of their lives.

Boy howdy! ... you hit the nail smack dab on the head with that (OBWW).

There was an "initiative" by the educrats hereabouts a couple of years ago
to "key" primary education directly to the _needs_ of the
corporate/business sector.

IOW, dumb them down (even further) and make them happy flippin' hamburgers
in a service industry ... a damn sight easier to teach 'em that way.

I am not sure, but I may have been one of the outspoken who put that one out
to pasture. Then again, those sneaky bastards may have implemented it under
some other guise.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/04

"srwood" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "I'll bet they still hire a fair share of twits and incompetents."
>
> Only a "twit" would make a comment like this about teachers. Education
> is one the most difficult and underpayed proffesions out there.



Oh my, not much education made it your way though did it. Why not have your
wife, the English Teacher, proofread your notes before you send them?

In my own 16 years of school, every teacher was perfect and all the teachers
my kids had were perfect also. All teachers are perfect aren't they?

They are all underpaid, even the ones driving the brand new Lexus (well,
they did trade in the Caddy), the one that gets a new car every six months,
the one that has a brand new car, pickup, boat and camper, the one that send
her own kids to private school. Just a few months ago I reviewed the school
budget in our town. Make me want to make a career change.

Morris Dovey wrote:
> srwood wrote:
>
>> "I'll bet they still hire a fair share of twits and
>> incompetents."
>>
>> Only a "twit" would make a comment like this about teachers.
>> Education is one the most difficult and underpayed
>> proffesions out there. Before you make ignorant statements
>> I'd like to see you spend eight hours with 160 kids and deal
>> with their self rightous parents for 30 grand a year. Then
>> you might rethink your stupid unrelevent comments.
>>
>> To the rest of you I apologize for degressing. My wife is an
>> English teacher and it is this kind of mentality that is
>> destroying our schools. NOT THE TEACHERS!!!
>
> Both of you guys are correct. Neither of you are right. Half
> of all teachers are above average, half are below.
>
> Every profession (yes, even the legal profession) has both
> stars /and/ twits.
>
> The sad fact of life is that the twits draw our attention much
> more effectively than do the stars.

Isn't usenet wonderful? (-:

I almost didn't post because I knew all my fellow geeks would
ignore the message and pull out their Cliff notes to check the
math. Must have been something perverse in me that made me click
on "send".

Ah well. The next part of the discussion will attempt to deal
with the case where there are an odd number of teachers...

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html

Mark & Juanita wrote:

>>
>>There's been talk of the same in NM, however what little industry we do
>>have doesn't tend to remain long - except call cneters, and thats not
>>really an industry. Its not NM that causes that, its the nature of many
>>businesses today, here today, gone tomorrow.
>>
>>The reason for tailor making the workers to the local industry here
>>isn't so people can make a decent living, its so that people don't pull
>>up stakes and leave NM. If they do all that'll be left is retirees. If
>>that happens, who will the politicians scam for money?
>
> oooh! oooh! I know! That's easy -- retirees and their heirs.
>
> Ya'll definitely need to get rid of some of those politicians. Having
> tried to find things in Sante Fe, I think somebody went way overboard with
> the zoning and sign ordinances.

If our illustrious Governor "King" Bill Richardson runs for President
then everyone can enjoy his selfish antics<G>. He's got a good shot too
given the push for the Hispanic vote, and King Bill is 50% Hispanic!
Dems seem to think he's their savior. He's the one promoting NM in NY
Times Square. As for SF, its called "The City Different", and it
definately is. Their motto is leave your money but not yourself, a huge
anti growth population lives there.

Wood, on topic! Saddly the bark beetle has decimated many of the piñon
trees in the state.

John

Silvan wrote:
> Mark Jerde wrote:
>
>> Wow, hope everything is ok. I haven't been keeping up with
>
> So far, so good. She's home. She's getting ready to go shopping.
> I'd say that means the prognosis is good. :)

Glad to hear that, but watch the wallet... ;-)

>> rec.wooddorking
>> for a few days, my laptop failed the BB gun test. See the abpw
>> thread "OT: Messed Up Laptop"
>
> I can't get ABPW, and that usenet replayer site doesn't seem to work
> correctly from my Linux web browser or something. None of the
> pictures people here tell me to look for are ever there, so I've
> given up bothering to even try.

The short score: BB Gun 1, Laptop LCD 0. Dell replaced the LCD at no cost
to me, though. I'm glad I extended the CompleteCare warantee back in
August.

-- Mark

"Mark & Juanita" wrote in message ...
> On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 12:18:41 -0600, "Swingman" wrote:
>
> >"John DeBoo" wrote in message
> >
> >> Their "Professional" goal is to push as many kids as possible into
> >> McJobs for the rest of their lives.
> >
> >Boy howdy! ... you hit the nail smack dab on the head with that (OBWW).
> >
> >There was an "initiative" by the educrats hereabouts a couple of years
ago
> >to "key" primary education directly to the _needs_ of the
> >corporate/business sector.
> >
>
> It all depends upon what was meant by the initiative. In the case of
the
> company I work for, such an initiative would have the schools focus on
> math, the physical sciences and technology skills -- a far cry from
> hamburger flippin'.

Sure it was ... that was why I brought it up.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/04

"srwood" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "I'll bet they still hire a fair share of twits and incompetents."
>
> Only a "twit" would make a comment like this about teachers. Education
> is one the most difficult and underpayed proffesions out there. Before
> you make ignorant statements I'd like to see you spend eight hours with
> 160 kids and deal with their self rightous parents for 30 grand a year.
> Then you might rethink your stupid unrelevent comments.
>
> To the rest of you I apologize for degressing. My wife is an English
> teacher and it is this kind of mentality that is destroying our
> schools. NOT THE TEACHERS!!!

"underpayed"?
"proffesions"?
"self rightous"?
"unrelevent"?
"degressing"?

And you have the nerve to call a professional writer a twit and claim to be
married to an English teacher? LOL!

B.

"srwood" wrote in message

>> "I'll bet they still hire a fair share of twits and incompetents."

> To the rest of you I apologize for degressing. My wife is an English
> teacher ....

<snip>

I hate to break it to you, but that fact (your wife being an English
teacher) doesn't seem to be having all that great of an effect down this way

After 12 years of the most recent battle(s), I can certify without doubt,
and provide ample proof, that we have a _large_ contingent of "twits and
incompetents" teaching here in Houston ISD.

AAMOF, the higher up the chain of bureaucracy you go in good old HISD, the
higher the preponderance of "twits and incompetents", maxing out at about
the PhD Ed level, mainly on account of them being educated beyond their
intelligence.

So, before you get terminal panty twist over the matter, and wear out the
justification for your argument, ask her to please make the "twits and
incompetents" down this way disappear also.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/04

"Morris Dovey" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> Both of you guys are correct. Neither of you are right. Half of
> all teachers are above average, half are below.

Uhhhh - are you sure?
Isn't that the median? :)

Did someone see the head to my hammer? It seems to have flown off the
handle.

-j


"srwood" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "I'll bet they still hire a fair share of twits and incompetents."
>
> Only a "twit" would make a comment like this about teachers. Education
> is one the most difficult and underpayed proffesions out there. Before
> you make ignorant statements I'd like to see you spend eight hours with
> 160 kids and deal with their self rightous parents for 30 grand a year.
> Then you might rethink your stupid unrelevent comments.
>
> To the rest of you I apologize for degressing. My wife is an English
> teacher and it is this kind of mentality that is destroying our
> schools. NOT THE TEACHERS!!!
> Charlie Self wrote:
> > My wife informs me, information via oldest daughter who teaches Latin
> in
> > Bedford, that the starting salary for teachers in Bedford County now
> 30 grand.
> >
> > Given the living costs here, that's an admirable price to pay, though
> I'll bet
> > they still hire a fair share of twits and incompetents.
> >
> > Charlie Self
> > "He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."
> Sir Winston
> > Churchill
>

"srwood" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "I'll bet they still hire a fair share of twits and incompetents."
>
> Only a "twit" would make a comment like this about teachers. Education
> is one the most difficult and underpayed proffesions out there. Before
> you make ignorant statements I'd like to see you spend eight hours with
> 160 kids and deal with their self rightous parents for 30 grand a year.
> Then you might rethink your stupid unrelevent comments.
>
> To the rest of you I apologize for degressing. My wife is an English
> teacher and it is this kind of mentality that is destroying our
> schools. NOT THE TEACHERS!!!
> Charlie Self wrote:
> > My wife informs me, information via oldest daughter who teaches Latin
> in
> > Bedford, that the starting salary for teachers in Bedford County now
> 30 grand.
> >
> > Given the living costs here, that's an admirable price to pay, though
> I'll bet
> > they still hire a fair share of twits and incompetents.

HHhhhmmmmmm. Where do you buy your "rose colored (coloured for those in the
GWN) glasses"? This is my 7th year volunteering in elementary school, all
day every day, with my best friend, who is a "special ed" teacher working
with 2,3,4th graders with emotional problems. We see it all . . ADD, ADHD,
abuse of all sorts and the results of same.

There are a lot of fine dedicated teachers "out there", and a fair amount of
twits and incompetents. I wouldn't say it's teachers who are ruining the
schools, although they contribute their fair share. It's the politicians,
lawyers, and the PC nuts(the three words are sometimes synonymous), parents
who can't or won't take responsibility for their children, and need I go on?

I'm sure "srwood"'s wife is a hard working teacher, but just where in our
modern school systems does she have to put up with 160 kids for 8 hr.? We've
all heard about overcrowded schools, but that's ridiculous. Maybe 160 in the
whole school? Maybe she's actually a principal?

EVERY profession has it's share of twits and incompetents, but it seems the
only *sin* is having enough vision and common sense to see them and speak
out about it, especially if they are in the "public domain".

I'll get down off my soapbox now, before I really get wound up, plus it's
time for me to "assume the position" and BOW DOWN to our great God
Charlie!(LOL)

--
Nahmie
Those on the cutting edge bleed a lot.

> Isn't usenet wonderful? (-:
>
> I almost didn't post because I knew all my fellow geeks would
> ignore the message and pull out their Cliff notes to check the
> math. Must have been something perverse in me that made me click
> on "send".
>
> Ah well. The next part of the discussion will attempt to deal
> with the case where there are an odd number of teachers...

Did someone mention chopsaws?

-j

"Silvan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> Renee's in the hospital.

Sorry to hear that - here's hoping/praying for a great outcome and this
becomes just another speed bump on the Road Of Life as soon as possible.

"Tim Daneliuk" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

>
> http://www.zone101.com/LearningZone/MathZones/theory/grade6/meanmode.htm

Geeeeeeeeez Louise!
I gott'a read?!?!?!

I'm a gul'durned senior middle manager!
Don't I have people to 'splain this to me? :)

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 12:18:41 -0600, "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote:

>"John DeBoo" wrote in message
>
>> Their "Professional" goal is to push as many kids as possible into
>> McJobs for the rest of their lives.
>
>Boy howdy! ... you hit the nail smack dab on the head with that (OBWW).
>
>There was an "initiative" by the educrats hereabouts a couple of years ago
>to "key" primary education directly to the _needs_ of the
>corporate/business sector.
>

It all depends upon what was meant by the initiative. In the case of the
company I work for, such an initiative would have the schools focus on
math, the physical sciences and technology skills -- a far cry from
hamburger flippin'.

>IOW, dumb them down (even further) and make them happy flippin' hamburgers
>in a service industry ... a damn sight easier to teach 'em that way.
>
>I am not sure, but I may have been one of the outspoken who put that one out
>to pasture. Then again, those sneaky bastards may have implemented it under
>some other guise.

Silvan...

Bummer - I hope thing go well and that Renee needn't be in the
hospital for long.

Good time to get into the shop (you can't spend /all/ your time
at the hospital!) and make some small (but beautiful) Welcome
Home gift. Something to express love and keep mind and hands busy.

Best wishes.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 20:31:37 -0700, John DeBoo <[email protected]> wrote:

>Mark & Juanita wrote:
>> On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 12:18:41 -0600, "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>"John DeBoo" wrote in message
>>>
>>>
>>>>Their "Professional" goal is to push as many kids as possible into
>>>>McJobs for the rest of their lives.
>>>
>>>Boy howdy! ... you hit the nail smack dab on the head with that (OBWW).
>>>
>>>There was an "initiative" by the educrats hereabouts a couple of years ago
>>>to "key" primary education directly to the _needs_ of the
>>>corporate/business sector.
>>>
>>
>>
>> It all depends upon what was meant by the initiative. In the case of the
>> company I work for, such an initiative would have the schools focus on
>> math, the physical sciences and technology skills -- a far cry from
>> hamburger flippin'.
>
>There's been talk of the same in NM, however what little industry we do
>have doesn't tend to remain long - except call cneters, and thats not
>really an industry. Its not NM that causes that, its the nature of many
>businesses today, here today, gone tomorrow.
>
>The reason for tailor making the workers to the local industry here
>isn't so people can make a decent living, its so that people don't pull
>up stakes and leave NM. If they do all that'll be left is retirees. If
>that happens, who will the politicians scam for money?
>

oooh! oooh! I know! That's easy -- retirees and their heirs.

Ya'll definitely need to get rid of some of those politicians. Having
tried to find things in Sante Fe, I think somebody went way overboard with
the zoning and sign ordinances.

>John

srwood wrote:

> "I'll bet they still hire a fair share of twits and
> incompetents."
>
> Only a "twit" would make a comment like this about teachers.
> Education is one the most difficult and underpayed proffesions
> out there. Before you make ignorant statements I'd like to see
> you spend eight hours with 160 kids and deal with their self
> rightous parents for 30 grand a year. Then you might rethink
> your stupid unrelevent comments.
>
> To the rest of you I apologize for degressing. My wife is an
> English teacher and it is this kind of mentality that is
> destroying our schools. NOT THE TEACHERS!!!

Both of you guys are correct. Neither of you are right. Half of
all teachers are above average, half are below.

Every profession (yes, even the legal profession) has both stars
/and/ twits.

The sad fact of life is that the twits draw our attention much
more effectively than do the stars.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html

Silvan wrote:

> Renee's in the hospital. They did a gallbladder ultrasound on her
> about three weeks ago, and took a wait and see attitude. Said she
> had a few small stones, but would probably be fine for months or
> years. She keeled over at work today. Any damn thing but fine.

Wow, hope everything is ok. I haven't been keeping up with rec.wooddorking
for a few days, my laptop failed the BB gun test. See the abpw thread "OT:
Messed Up Laptop"

-- Mark

Come on. Don't appear obtuse. When a state school system says their
kids test above average, they're saying that the "average" of New Mexico
kids are above the "average" of all the other states. Am I totally
missing something?

bob g.

John DeBoo wrote:

> Tim Douglass wrote:
>
>> On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 10:14:17 -0600, Morris Dovey <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Both of you guys are correct. Neither of you are right. Half of all
>>> teachers are above average, half are below.
>>
>>
>>
>> Actually, mathematically, it is possible that all but one are below
>> average. Not likely, but it *is* possible.
>>
>> Tim Douglass
>
>
> So true, in MN we're constantly told that the Albuquerque Public School
> kids test above average. What a vessel of bovine fecal material! If
> they are all above, then who the hell is below? Someone has to be,
> unless some of the Educrats *NEW* fuzzy math is at work here. One plus
> one equals three (depending upon the density of one)!
> John

On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 07:33:50 -0500, "George" <george@least> wrote:

>
>"Tim Douglass" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 10:14:17 -0600, Morris Dovey <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >Both of you guys are correct. Neither of you are right. Half of
>> >all teachers are above average, half are below.
>>
>> Actually, mathematically, it is possible that all but one are below
>> average. Not likely, but it *is* possible.
>>
>
>Ayup. Now, if you compare to other college "graduates," you'll get a real
>enlightenment.
>

Has anything changes since I took the GRE 15 years ago? Back then, even
the art students ranked higher than the education majors. (not that there's
anything wrong with being an art student, it just struck me as ironic,
given the kids in high school and college who majored in art, that they
would have higher test scores than those instructing the next generation).

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 23:37:58 -0500, Silvan
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I'm really debating whether to try to juggle both kids in two different
>floats in the Christmas parade. My wife would have done it, but I'm half
>the woman she is. It's a logistical nightmare. Under the circumstances, I
>don't think anyone would particularly notice if we decided to bail.

Check with the kids. Sometimes those things *really* matter to them,
sometimes not at all. They may also be more understanding than you
expect.

Tim Douglass

http://www.DouglassClan.com

srwood wrote:

> "I'll bet they still hire a fair share of twits and incompetents."
>
> Only a "twit" would make a comment like this about teachers. Education
> is one the most difficult and underpayed proffesions out there. Before
> you make ignorant statements I'd like to see you spend eight hours with
> 160 kids and deal with their self rightous parents for 30 grand a year.
> Then you might rethink your stupid unrelevent comments.
>
> To the rest of you I apologize for degressing. My wife is an English
> teacher and it is this kind of mentality that is destroying our
> schools. NOT THE TEACHERS!!!

Good, then I assume we can count our your help in privatizing the school
system. Since Teachers=Good without exception (according to you) and
Problems=SomewhereElse, then a private school system will benefit
teachers immensely insofar as they will get paid more, have more control
in the classroom, and be able to permanently expell students that are
disruptive (all things that we cannot do now in the Public system).

BTW, anyone who believes that teachers are never the problem is even
more naive than someone who believes they are the entire problem.
The NEA is one of the most vile, destructive, shortsighted, and plain
stupid organizations as regards to education and it is run for and by ...
TEACHERS...

--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim Daneliuk [email protected]
PGP Key: http://www.tundraware.com/PGP/

Swingman wrote:
> "srwood" wrote in message
>
>>>"I'll bet they still hire a fair share of twits and incompetents."
>
>>To the rest of you I apologize for degressing. My wife is an English
>>teacher ....
>
> <snip>
>
> I hate to break it to you, but that fact (your wife being an English
> teacher) doesn't seem to be having all that great of an effect down this way
>
> After 12 years of the most recent battle(s), I can certify without doubt,
> and provide ample proof, that we have a _large_ contingent of "twits and
> incompetents" teaching here in Houston ISD.
>
> AAMOF, the higher up the chain of bureaucracy you go in good old HISD, the
> higher the preponderance of "twits and incompetents", maxing out at about
> the PhD Ed level, mainly on account of them being educated beyond their
> intelligence.
>
> So, before you get terminal panty twist over the matter, and wear out the
> justification for your argument, ask her to please make the "twits and
> incompetents" down this way disappear also.

Don't send them north to Albuquerque. We also have our fill of idiots
teaching here who's goal it seems is to make a paycheck and go home.
Their "Professional" goal is to push as many kids as possible into
McJobs for the rest of their lives.

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 13:55:24 -0800, Tim Douglass wrote:

> On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 10:14:17 -0600, Morris Dovey <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Both of you guys are correct. Neither of you are right. Half of all
>>teachers are above average, half are below.
>
> Actually, mathematically, it is possible that all but one are below
> average. Not likely, but it *is* possible.

...and in a one teacher school, the lone teacher can only be average.

- Doug

--

To escape criticism--do nothing, say nothing, be nothing." (Elbert Hubbard)

Tim Douglass wrote:

> On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 10:14:17 -0600, Morris Dovey <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>
>>Both of you guys are correct. Neither of you are right. Half of
>>all teachers are above average, half are below.
>
>
> Actually, mathematically, it is possible that all but one are below
> average. Not likely, but it *is* possible.
>
> Tim Douglass

So true, in MN we're constantly told that the Albuquerque Public School
kids test above average. What a vessel of bovine fecal material! If
they are all above, then who the hell is below? Someone has to be,
unless some of the Educrats *NEW* fuzzy math is at work here. One plus
one equals three (depending upon the density of one)!
John

J wrote:

>>Isn't usenet wonderful? (-:
>>
>>I almost didn't post because I knew all my fellow geeks would
>>ignore the message and pull out their Cliff notes to check the
>>math. Must have been something perverse in me that made me click
>>on "send".
>>
>>Ah well. The next part of the discussion will attempt to deal
>>with the case where there are an odd number of teachers...
>
>
> Did someone mention chopsaws?

Wasn't she a sewing teacher, no, that was hatchet face.
John

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 02:32:59 -0500, Silvan
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Charlie Self wrote:
>
>> My wife informs me, information via oldest daughter who teaches Latin in
>> Bedford, that the starting salary for teachers in Bedford County now 30
>> grand.
>
>Thanks for the note. Sorry you stirred up so much shit in so doing.
>
... snip
>Renee's in the hospital. They did a gallbladder ultrasound on her about
>three weeks ago, and took a wait and see attitude. Said she had a few
>small stones, but would probably be fine for months or years. She keeled
>over at work today. Any damn thing but fine.
>

Sorry to hear this, hope things start straightening out soon.