Knox County Schools To Address Academics?

Now we are hearing the other side of the issue, from parents who are supportive of the rezoning efforts.  Most of these supporters realize that someone has to be moved, and although it may be a tough pill to swallow, it has to be accepted.  School board chairwoman Karen Carson is encouraged, and looks forward to moving ahead:

“We have other issues that we’ve got to start addressing, like the budget, the superintendent search and academics,” she said.

Wow!  As soon as the rezoning issue is resolved, academics will crack the top 3 of the school board’s priorities!!!  I may have to rethink my position that public schools are horribly ineffective and a waste of tax dollars.

Power Blackout in Colombia

The whole country suffered a three hour power outage yesterday.

The blackout caused chaos in the main avenues of the Colombian capital and other cities of the country since traffic lights stopped working.

That’s funny.  I was there in October, and I thought all of the traffic lights were Christmas decorations because no one paid much attention to them.  It makes sense though–it’s tough to run a red light when it won’t turn red.  I can see where this would cause some confusion and chaos in Colombian traffic.

NASCAR and Pro Wrestling

I’ve been saying it for years. NASCAR is fixed. Professional Wrestling may have predetermined outcomes, but NASCAR is rigged. At least pro wrestling doesn’t claim to be real.

Finally I’m vindicated. One of NASCAR’s own has broken kayfabe and told the truth.

Two-time champion Tony Stewart likened NASCAR to professional wrestling and accused it of using bogus caution flags to shape races in biting comments made on his weekly radio show.

The day I apologize for dogging out NASCAR while defending pro wrestling is the day I have to watch John Cena chase Randy Orton around and around the ring for four hours straight.

Like Private School is a Bad Thing?

From WBIR.

This is what happens when customers are not satisfied with a product…they choose a different supplier.  Unfortunately, Knox County residents will still be forced to pay the provider for a defective product they aren’t even using.

 As stated by rocketsquirrel on rocketsquirrel on KnoxViews:

Perhaps the School Board and the Administration need to look in the mirror and explain why it is losing so many students to private schools and home schooling. Perhaps it has to do with service and quality.

Knoxville’s Hot Topic–Rezoning

I’m still baffled by this uproar and outcry.

I wonder how many of the parents who are ranting and raving about the rezoning (the most common complaint is that their kids are going to be separated from their friends) would ever bother to complain to the school board about the fact that their children are graduating from these institutions with sub-standard skills in reading, writing, and math.

Sorry folks.  When you are willing to turn over your right (responsibility) to decide on how/when/what your children learn to the gov’ment, it is ridiculous to expect that you should be able to choose “where” they are sent to be indoctrinated.

It is a sad situation when what should be a wake up call for people to question the overall failure of the public education system is seen only as a possible inconvenience to the social lives of some teeny boppers.  After all, Farragut people could never learn to be friends with Karns people, right?  “They’re diff’rent from us!!!”

It’s nice to see that Knox County hasn’t compromised its priorities.  Football, social life, commute time, …, readin’, ritin’, ‘rithmatic.

We are getting exactly what we paid for.

No worries though. In a few months this will blow over, and we’ll once again be united as a community in our hatred of “Flarda”. Then we’ll debate the real issues that need to be addressed, like who should be the offensive coordinator and starting tailback

Tennessee Trash

I was looking for some other posts about eyesores in Knoxville and  and found  the Tennessee Trash Blog.  Byron has posted this commercial on the entire site.  It is a remake of the “Tennessee Trash” commercial that ran when I was a kid in the 70s.

The funniest thing about the orginal is how I was affected by it.  I was only 4 or 5 years old, and didn’t really get the message of the PSA, but I really loved the commercial.  I remember getting on my big wheel and loading myself down with garbage.  Then I’d ride up and down the driveway throwing trash all over the place and singing the “Tennessee Trash” theme song.

It’s cool they have Ed Bruce singing this though.  Check out this PSA!

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Knoxville Eyesores

I actually got up yesterday to check the KNS online to see their article on Knoxville Eyesores.  I have to say that I’m a little disappointed, but I guess you get what you pay for.  It seems like they were addressing issues that occur everywhere else in Generica–urban sprawl, litter, strip malls, abanadoned warehouses, etc.

While all of these are definitely eyesores, they aren’t specific to Knoxville.  I decided I’d come up with my own incomplete list of eyesores that are specific to K-Town.  Of course, these are my personal opinions. Continue reading “Knoxville Eyesores”

Talking Cameras to Monitor for Litter

Oh boy. 

Home Secretary John Reid told BBC News there would be some people, “in the minority who will be more concerned about what they claim are civil liberties intrusions”.

What about this isn’t an intrusion on civil liberties?  And so what if the people who are concerned are in the minority?  As I recall from history, we had a minority in this country who claimed their civil liberties were being denied. 

 They were right.  The point that they were in the minority is moot.

Another Great Ron Paul Interview

What is it that possesses anybody to think that governments, which (are) not trusted by anybody, should have the power to create money out of thin air and create runaway spending and allow the politicians to not worry about deficits in order to buy reelection?

The full interview is here.

The only area I really disagree with Dr. Paul is on immigration.  However, I do agree with him that the problem would basically solve itself if we ended entitlements.  The free (tax payer financed) services we offer are motivation enough for them to risk coming here illegally, especially when they know nothing will happen to them once they are here.  End the motivation and the problem would no longer be a problem…a nuisance at best.

Read the whole article.  Again, it is too bad that this kind of common sense (and Constitutional) talk isn’t en vogue in the big parties.

Virginia Tech Shooter Photos

Virginia Tech Shooter is a piece of shitWow. Those are super disturbing. Personally, I think it sucks that the media is giving this guy the exact glorification and exposure he wanted.  I didn’t want to glorify “that guy” by mentioning his name or posting his photo here. However, I dug through the archives and found one that I feel accurately represents him.