Still Hating America.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
You should just stop by an animal shelter and pick up three or four dogs, let them out in the back yard, and feed them occassionally. They'll like you because you feed them, but since they're still hungry, they'll pack up and chase the wild things away.

And, if anything unpleasant becomes of them, at least you saved them from the shelter's needle and gave them a little more time.

Born free!!! As free as the wind blows!!!

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Born free!!! As free as the wind blows!!!

actually GGG touched on a metaphor. those dogs were raised in captivity. they are used to someone putting food out for them, and wouldn't have the first clue about getting their own food.

It's similar to the way the Great society has crippled the spirit of the poor in this country to expect handouts, and here the teacher's unions have taken the last step of fucking up the "hunting lessons" that every child should be able to expect. sad.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
actually GGG touched on a metaphor. those dogs were raised in captivity. they are used to someone putting food out for them, and wouldn't have the first clue about getting their own food.

It's similar to the way the Great society has crippled the spirit of the poor in this country to expect handouts, and here the teacher's unions have taken the last step of fucking up the "hunting lessons" that every child should be able to expect. sad.

Yeah, 'cause the poor were doing so well back in the glory days of Herbert Hoover.

[Adder]

Originally posted by Spanky
Yes there are other elements that might make urban schools more expensive, but they are not that significant.

We might as well stop right here. You clearly have no idea what you are talking about.

I can't speak for the rest of the country, but in California the biggest problem with our inner city school is that the school boards are strongly influenced by the Teachers Union because the Democrats are in control.

This is a political soundbite, not diagnosis. What is it that you think these evildoers are standing in the way of that provides a bigger impediment than, for example: (1) students with limited English skills (for whome English is not their first language), (2) poverty, (3) family instability. And how does your little paradigm account for the relationship between a lack of school success and the proportion of students that qualify for free or subsidized lunches?

[Adder]

Originally posted by Spanky
The neighbor's dog (Cocoa) they are pretty sure got mauled by a Cougar or one really big bobcat. My neighbor is convinced that all the Deer around are attracting the Cougars so he is investigating ways to keep them out of his yard. However, his dog roams free around the neighborhood (and is not the sharpest chocolate lab on the planet), so I don't see it as doing much good (for the dog anyway). I don't own a dog, but I am thinking about getting one just so he can let me now when a large Cat is around thinking I might be his or her next meal. I think it might be time to move out of the hills and into the city.

Labs are notoriously dumb. I hear it is because of the power of the Obedience School Teachers Union.

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Born free!!! As free as the wind blows!!!

Sing it, brudda!

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
actually GGG touched on a metaphor. those dogs were raised in captivity. they are used to someone putting food out for them, and wouldn't have the first clue about getting their own food.

It's similar to the way the Great society has crippled the spirit of the poor in this country to expect handouts, and here the teacher's unions have taken the last step of fucking up the "hunting lessons" that every child should be able to expect. sad.

Huh. And here I thought it was a metaphor where the wild dogs encircling Spanky's house on the now-dead and barren ground symbolized the new, tougher business deals being struck in Woodside and Atherton.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Adder
This is a political soundbite, not diagnosis. What is it that you think these evildoers are standing in the way of that provides a bigger impediment to, for example: (1) students with limited English skills (for whome English is not their first language), (2) poverty, (3) family instability. And how does your little paradigm account for the relationship between a lack of school success and the proportion of students that qualify for free or subsidized lunches?

You've pointed out a few of the problems with Spanky's anecdote-driven theories. But there are others.

It turns out that there are some public school rankings on the Internets. And while the free stuff is a little dated, they do not show anything like the pattern that Spanky's theories would predict.

One random example -- in 1999, SF's Lowell HS was ranked 2nd in the state. Several elementary schools in LA appear in the top 50 (more than from such Republican-run, Union-free paradises like Fresno).

Not surprisingly, the best school districts are in the Silicon Valley, where parents are deeply involved and deeply interested in education.

I'd be interested to see more recent data but I'm not going to pay for it. Presumably, Spanky's reviewed it all and knows that the story radically changed, that in the last several years R-run districts are dominant, and can cite some other studies that factor in the issues you define (i.e. -- it's a little cheaper to run a school in Palo Alto where you don't have to provide breakfast to students).

I mean, Spanky must have that kind of support for his arguments? Because he doesn't just point out the bad things that teachers' unions do -- there certainly are some bad things, and it would be refreshing to see a discussion of those without all the baggage attached. But Spanky ties them to the general downfall of western civilization -- and such sweeping statements must have support -- right?

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
So if you were a transactional lawyer thinking about switching over to a business model where you got a cut of the deal instead an hourly fee, you'd make sure to tell your clients that you'd do their deal even if they don't want to pay you your cut, being a professional and all?

dissent. The appropriate analogy is, I am already engaged in the process of the representation. Let's say its a $500M financing deal, my client has made $500K good faith deposit, with a 75 day window to close and for deal specific reasons a hard closing date, which, if not realised will result in extraordinary damages. 15 days before closing, with significant issues still on the table and all of the deal documents still in play, I "go on strike".

Malpractice?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Penske_Account
dissent. The appropriate analogy is, I am already engaged in the process of the representation.

The teacher strikes I'm familiar with have happened when they have no contract, not after they've agreed to a new one.

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
The teacher strikes I'm familiar with have happened when they have no contract, not after they've agreed to a new one.

Are they not in the middle of a school year, teaching children?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Penske_Account
Are they not in the middle of a school year, teaching children?

Usually at the beginning. But if there's no contract, and the school board decides to go into the year with a bunch of teachers who are willing to work without a contract, I don't see how you can fault the professionalism of the teachers for only putting up with that for so long.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
The teacher strikes I'm familiar with have happened when they have no contract, not after they've agreed to a new one.

I agree with Ty. Try this one Penske:

I'm bringing in a shipment of very valuable sensitive product. In the past I've contracted with a group of professionals to care for the product and nuture it. If left alone the product will rot. I have no ability to shift the product to a different care provider, nor slow the arrival date: then a week before arrival my care providers tell me they won't care for my valuable product. It can rot for all they care UNLESS I make concessions.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
I agree with Ty. Try this one Penske:

I'm bringing in a shipment of very valuable sensitive product. In the past I've contracted with a group of professionals to care for the product and nuture it. If left alone the product will rot. I have no ability to shift the product to a different care provider, nor slow the arrival date: then a week before arrival my care providers tell me they won't care for my valuable product. It can rot for all they care UNLESS I make concessions.

Or this one: In the past, my dog has been cared for by Spanky when I go away. I have paid him $15 a day. I call Spanky, and he says, look, my rates are going up, I'm going to charge $20 a day. I say, I can't pay more than $17. He says, no deal, I'll go to $19, no less.

So, I drop my dog off at Spanky's house and leave an envelope with $17 a day for a week in it. Spanky calls me, and says, look, I told you, not a dollar less than $19, so come pick up your dog. I say, well, I can't do it today, can you hold him tonight for $17? Spanky says, OK, but just tonight. Then next day, Spanky calls and says, are you getting your dog or not?

The nerve of him. No wonder there are unfed dogs running wild in his backyard.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
I agree with Ty. Try this one Penske:

I'm bringing in a shipment of very valuable sensitive product. In the past I've contracted with a group of professionals to care for the product and nuture it. If left alone the product will rot. I have no ability to shift the product to a different care provider, nor slow the arrival date: then a week before arrival my care providers tell me they won't care for my valuable product. It can rot for all they care UNLESS I make concessions.

My kids don't rot that quickly -- maybe I'm lucky.