Vocabulary Fun
In my classes we work with a me-adapted program based off of Vocabulary for College Thinking. The first step of the week's five words is to guess a synonym for them from their context in a sentence. Sometimes this goes well, sometimes it's just amusing.
Here are some of my favorites from last week. Feel free to editorialize.
She allegedly took the ipod while her brother was gone.smartly
intelligentlyIt is important to take meticulous notes because the information from each day will be tested.sneaky
unnoticeable
Obsessively
Obsessive-compulsivelyMany people were unnerved by the discovery of a woman’s finger in Wendy’s Chili.Unhurt
Excited
Lured
An Update to End All Updates
Well, not really, but I realized my last post was not the edited version and therefore not complete and edited. My computer seems to have eaten that post. But I do think it's dangerous both to vote without worrying about personal/spiritual implications and also to take them so far that this election is lost or won on abortion positions without looking at the candidates' positions on related matters. Look it up. There are some suprises.
We did the Late Night Tech thing this Friday-- I made it to bed at 2am! This was one of those weekends I packed too much in. On the way to the wedding, David and I stopped off at the family Iowa at U of M tailgate to have him meet a few more relatives and just because I really enjoy them. Kinda stressed out my aunts to have us there with Amy's wedding only a few hours away.
Anyway, my housemate is well married.
It was odd to actually be there--ten months of planning all done up in just a few short hours.
I miss her already, but then again, Greg will take good care of her.
Ala the DJ, doing the "You never close your eyes..." thing from Top Gun.
Returning the favor to Greg with Aretha Franklin's Respect.
Dancing. Elan & David were the most recently married pair (black and purple dancers). It was fun to see Karen and Hillary too!
Remember when? Yeah, Peter Awesome and the Jennster, his pie of sweetness, have been married almost a month!
The moment after I missed the moment of Peter looking at Jenny. It's not a great shot, but I love the idea of the Mom/Groom with backdrop of groomsmen.
It snowed. Icky.
I had a record number of boards in my car last week--18. I think you can only count 16 but the rest are there!
Malibus really aren't meant to be used like that.
Now it's one week to the end of the 2006 wedding season. Emily and John are the last ones. It will be good.
Meg Continues To Be Political
After a brief hiatus in which I contracted either bronchittis and/or walking pneumonia (love those antibiootics and striods! REALLY love that good cold medicine with coedine in it--takes the edge of musical season right off. Don't worry, no power tools for me.), I'm back and firey (if still drugged out of my head).
Here are your proposals Michigan. I think you’d probably better read them over. I heard a proposal 5 commercial last night that was so one-sided it wasn’t even a little persuasive. The actual language is below. You’ll find I’ve made my comments below them, including spiritual complications this time.
The pretty version is
here.
September 20, 2006
STATE OF MICHIGAN
STATEWIDE BALLOT PROPOSAL STATUS
NOVEMBER 7, 2006 GENERAL ELECTION
I. STATEWIDE PROPOSALS QUALIFIED TO APPEAR ON NOVEMBER 7, 2006 GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT
• HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION Z: Adopted by State House July 14, 2004; adopted by State Senate December 8, 2004; deposited with Secretary of State December 20, 2004.
BALLOT LANGUAGE: The following ballot language was approved by the Board of State Canvassers on August 25, 2006:
P
ROPOSAL 06-1 A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO REQUIRE THAT MONEY HELD IN CONSERVATION AND RECREATION FUNDS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSES The proposed constitutional amendment would:
• Create a Conservation and Recreation Legacy Fund within the Constitution and establish existing conservation and recreation accounts as components of the fund.
• Use current funding sources such as state park entrance and camping fees; snowmobile, ORV and boating registration fees; hunting and fishing license fees; taxes and other revenues to fund accounts.
• Establish the current Game and Fish Protection Fund and the Nongame Fish and Wildlife Fund within the Constitution.
• Provide that money held in Funds can only be used for specific purposes related to conservation and recreation and cannot be used for any purpose other than those intended.
Should this proposal be adopted? Yes No
Eh, why not? I am afraid of losing wetlands and parks to urban sprawl. But I haven't read much about this one. Perhaps it does things I don't know about. That could be bad. • MICHIGAN CIVIL RIGHTS INITIATIVE PETITION: Signatures filed January 6, 2005; proposal ordered on ballot by Michigan Court of Appeals December 20, 2005.
BALLOT LANGUAGE: The following ballot language was approved by the Board of State Canvassers on January 20, 2006:
PROPOSAL 06-2 A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO BAN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS THAT GIVE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS BASED ON THEIR RACE, GENDER, COLOR, ETHNICITY OR NATIONAL ORIGIN FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION OR CONTRACTING PURPOSES The proposed constitutional amendment would:
• Ban public institutions from using affirmative action programs that give preferential treatment to groups or individuals based on their race, gender, color, ethnicity or national origin for public employment, education or contracting purposes. Public institutions affected by the proposal include state government, local governments, public colleges and universities, community colleges and school districts.
• Prohibit public institutions from discriminating against groups or individuals due to their gender, ethnicity, race, color or national origin. (A separate provision of the state constitution already prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin.)
Should this proposal be adopted? Yes No
I'm not at all convinced the time for affirmative action is over. Statistically, by percentage, whites still go to college and complete college more than any other group in the US. U of M is not a great mesh of colors and cultures in the same way MSU is.
On the other hand, what's the chance my baby bro could have gotten in there if he hadn't been military? While it may not always feel like it, white priviledge still exists and I don't see it all equaling out anytime soon. • DOVE HUNTING REFERENDUM: Referendum petition approved as to form August 11, 2004; signatures filed March 28, 2005; petition determined sufficient June 2, 2005.
BALLOT LANGUAGE: The following ballot language was approved by the Board of State Canvassers on August 25, 2006:
PROPOSAL 06-3 A REFERENDUM ON PUBLIC ACT 160 OF 2004 – AN ACT TO ALLOW THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HUNTING SEASON FOR MOURNING DOVES Public Act 160 of 2004 would:
• Authorize the Natural Resources Commission to establish a hunting season for mourning doves.
• Require a mourning dove hunter to have a small game license and a $2.00 mourning dove stamp.
• Stipulate that revenue from the stamp must be split evenly between the Game and Fish Protection Fund and the Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund.
• Require the Department of Natural Resources to address responsible mourning dove hunting; management practices for the propagation of mourning doves; and participation in mourning dove hunting by youth, the elderly and the disabled in the Department’s annual hunting guide.
Should this law be approved? Yes No
Still, I think I'll vote for it. With the way things arDove is yummy, but it seems like this would probably be a recreational hunt for most. Small birds are hard to clean and eat. e going in this state, I may need to go hunt doves for dinner some night. It makes me think of the rabbit scenes in Roger & Me. And Lord knows, the wildlife folks need the revenue after budget cuts. • SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION E: Adopted by the State Senate December 13, 2005; adopted by the State House December 13, 2005; deposited with the Secretary of State December 15, 2005.
BALLOT LANGUAGE: The following ballot language was approved by the Board of State Canvassers on August 25, 2006.
PROPOSAL 06-4 A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROHIBIT GOVERNMENT FROM TAKING PRIVATE PROPERTY BY EMINENT DOMAIN FOR CERTAIN PRIVATE PURPOSES The proposed constitutional amendment would:
• Prohibit government from taking private property for transfer to another private individual or business for purposes of economic development or increasing tax revenue.
• Provide that if an individual’s principal residence is taken by government for public use, the individual must be paid at least 125% of property’s fair market value.
• Require government that takes a private property to demonstrate that the taking is for a public use; if taken to eliminate blight, require a higher standard of proof to demonstrate that the taking of that property is for a public use.
• Preserve existing rights of property owners.
Should this proposal be adopted? Yes No
Methinks yes. Eminent domain has long sucked in my eyes. I wonder what rich guy they grabbed a house from to finally get this on the ballot. • EDUCATIONAL FUNDING GUARANTEE: Initiative petition approved as to form December 7, 2005; signatures filed February 21, 2006; petition determined sufficient June 5, 2006; proposal presented to State Legislature for consideration June 5, 2006; no action taken by State Legislature during 40-day consideration period.
BALLOT LANGUAGE: The following ballot language was approved by the Board of State Canvassers on August 25, 2006:
PROPOSAL 06-5 A LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE TO ESTABLISH MANDATORY SCHOOL FUNDING LEVELS The proposed law would:
• Increase current funding by approximately $565 million and require State to provide annual funding increases equal to the rate of inflation for public schools, intermediate school districts, community colleges, and higher education (includes state universities and financial aid/grant programs).
• Require State to fund any deficiencies from General Fund.
• Base funding for school districts with a declining enrollment on three-year student enrollment average.
• Reduce and cap retirement fund contribution paid by public schools, community colleges and state universities; shift remaining portion to state.
• Reduce funding gap between school districts receiving basic per-pupil foundation allowance and those receiving maximum foundation allowance.
Should this proposed law be approved? Yes No
This one I'm fiery on. This needs to pass. With schools of choice and the charters going in and out of business, certain schools are losing pupils and funding for mulitple years and then having to reabsorb those pupils when the students come back without having the resources built up by having them there for years.
If you want me to photocopy the same amount of material year after year and keep increasing my paper costs, you need to increase my funding. No, the buzzwords "student achievement" aren't in here, but trust me, materials, a warm classroom, extra paper and a teacher who isn't working a second job to pay rent are linked to student success.
Next, retirement is indeed a crazy thing. Can I have my 401K now please? The current system of pensions is going to collapse without help (sort of the same way social security is supposed to). I'm not really interested in giving my employer my promised retirement package and knowing it's not solvent as I relinquish it.
And it's really the poorer districts which are hurt. Horrid inequalities. Unto the least of these, it's done unto Him. II. LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS ENACTED BY STATE LEGISLATURE
A. REPEAL SBT: Initiative petition approved as to form April 11, 2006; signatures filed May 30, 2006; petition determined sufficient July 28, 2006; proposal presented to State Legislature for consideration July 28, 2006; enacted by State Legislature August 9, 2006 (proposal will not appear on ballot due to enactment). Purpose: Legislative initiative to repeal the Single Business Tax Act; provide for the collection of taxes due under current law on business activity through December 31, 2007; and encourage the legislature to adopt a tax that is “less burdensome and less costly to employers, and more conducive to job creation and investment.” Ummm.... all that talk about the single business tax? It's already gone.
God's Plan Involving Snow
My cat brought me a roach this evening. Picked it right out of her cat food and brought it over.
I'm pretty rational about most things, but
I'm pretty irrational about roaches. I was happy to discover I didn't react as I thought I would (move immediately). Instead, after a bit of horrified shrieking and a few tears I realized I had to solve this one myself. Amy's not here. David's five hours away. Mark moved to California. I'm not about to try to move in with the newlyweds until I can get an exterminator here.
Perhaps God sent the snow just so I wouldn't decide to camp out in the back yard for a few days. It certainly kept me from running out into the yard in my PJs and standing there helpless waiting for rescue.
So I went to Walmart (I needed Zero Frizz--they're the only place I can find that carries it anymore, so it was a two-birds thing) and bought a vertiable arsenal of roach killing products. Tonight I'm going to sleep very uneasily, eat only things kept in the fridge and pray for dawn. Tomorrow, I'm gonna use 'em, pack up the cat and head to Cincinnati. Let's hope for the best.
Dear Michigan,
It is snowing today. Today is October 11. OCTOBER!!!! Under our agreement fo rme to live here, I am to put up with a number of gray, drizzly, wet days throughout the year. You, on the other hand, are to have a reasonably short, mildish winter to start no sooner than American Thanksgiving Day.
You have clearly overstepped your bounds and I insist that you cease and desist with the snowing immediately and return to the crisp autumn days that are scheduled for early October.
Sincerely,
Meg
Dear Meg,
While we understand your concern about the early onset of snow this season, if you refer to the clause on page 321.5.46.21.2.1, subset B of So
You've Decided to Say Yes! to Michigan, you will notice that in the event of an excess stock of specific weather patterns, Michigan reserves the right to use that excess at its discretion.
Today we chose to utilize our overstock of snow in hopes of setting a new record. We are sure you can appreciate the unique opportunity to be a part of the earliest onset of snow in Michigan history.
Regards,
The State of Michigan
Dear Michigan,
I couldn't care less about your stupid record. I want to go to a cider mill and pick apples tomorrow. When you decided to snow early did you think about the fruit farmers? Tell me, did you!?!
Snow is for white Chirstmases and swearing at in January. How many Christmases have you ruined by bad management of the snow and frost? How many fruit farmers' children will go without a dancing Elmo doll this Christmas because of your bad management?
Sincerely,
Meg
Dear Meg,
Nee-ner-nee-ner-nee-ner. Your indignant tone incites us to taunt you.
Are you not the same teacher woman who rejoices at snow days and likes to sled? You've had a good summer. Let it go at that.
--Michigan
Dude,
You are soooooo not getting me a snow day out of this. I repeat, you are
way outside your jurisdiction and I will take further action if you don't cut it out and have the snow out of here by Saturday morning. You've got 36 hours.
--Meg
Granholm or Devos?
My Day:
5:00 am: Get up, stumble to kitchen, make coffee, get in shower, do hair, etc.
6:40: Running WAY late, I dump over the rubber plant in the living room, and leave it so I can get to school.
7:15: Collect copies off copier, update field trip list, realize it’s parent visitation day. Crap. Not enough handouts and a destroy-able outfit.
7:35-11:55: teach like mad, prep students for Thursday’s test, administering a vocab quiz, go over handouts, deal with attendance contracts, lead discussion including parents, need to pee badly.
11:56: Pee. Have lunch, read email. Go on prep. Find out what my MSU seniors need in the next week. Call back two parents who have concerns. Make sub plans for Drama and Thr. Prd. (field trip tomorrow to Romeo & Juliet, six kids needed scholarships for ticket and bus. That’s a lot of cash out of pocket. I’ll call in sick because the kids can’t afford to pay for my sub…worry about budget). Grade vocab quizzes (don’t finish). RSVP to LCC costume shop for event Oct. 11 from 3-6 (must cancel tech, but hey, tons of free stuff). Draw up plans for a platform. Need to find time to photocopy the plans and clean out car.
1:30: Teach theatre production.
2:35: Grab snack of popcorn. Make a shop task list. Write down instructions for wallpaper application to the flats.
3:00: Tech. Wish desperately to sit down for just a moment.
5:20: Get bridesmaids dress from car on other side of the building.
5:40: Have dress fitted by costume mistress.
6:10: Go back to classroom. Shut down technology. Review attendance. Write first section of test for Thursday. Return parent phone call.
6:45: Head to post office. Don’t mail package.
7:10: Home. Cold pizza and a banana. David calls to talk Frankfurt.
8:20: Shower to get rid of paste in my hair. Vacuum. Watch debate.
Let’s talk for a moment about the gubernatorial race. I’m watching the debate and Devos make me want to hurl (I’m feeling very mature tonight). Governors don’t have control over federal policies like NAFTA and CAFTA. Therefore, how can he pretend he’ll keep good, well-paying manufacturing jobs in Michigan? Greensville. ‘Nuff said. How can he even summon the gall to talk about exporting GM cars to China when they pay a 3% tariff and we pay so much more?
Now let’s talk about my job. You read the above. Do I seem like a slacker? How much of a raise do you get per year? More than 2%? That’s where I’m at if the budget goes well. Less if it doesn’t. No chance for a bonus if income from monies attached to students who move into the district because I do my job well pushes our district balance higher.
My retirement is a pension. Awesome if the state stays stable and I teach in Michigan for ten years. As it is, if I move down to Ohio, I forfeit ALL of it. Minus the money I’ve contributed personally. Which can stay in an account and earn 2% annually.
And I have five point two three years and a Master’s degree!
Now don’t get me wrong, I think merit pay is a hole we don’t want to crawl down. But please don’t tell me I’m overcompensated.
Let’s talk about merit pay.
As a school it’s a bad idea. Given that parental involvement is the most significant predictor of student success, I don’t think I get credit for teaching a in a district with good parents that value education. And my colleagues shouldn’t be penalized for teaching in areas that are unsupportive of their children or who don’t value formal education. Let’s not even get into the monetary disparity issues.
As an individual I’d think merit pay was a great idea if I got the honors kids and didn’t have to take special education students’ scores into my success average. Isn’t it those students who aren’t supposed to be left behind? Do you want your average-minded (or below-average minded) kid in a school that makes them a liability to be sloughed off as soon as possible instead of a project to be helped along?
Honestly, I’d strike on that issue. No thanks Mr. Devos. No thanks.
Many, Many Things Before The Snow Comes
Mmm. So many good things this last few weeks.
As many have pointed out, the Jenny/Pete Wedding was every bit as elegant and fun as expected (Jenny does have a knack for these things).
Two of my favorite moments: When Jenny walked in, Pete mouthed "oh yeah" (I'm pretty sure it was unconcious) and just glowed down the aisle at her. I almost caught that moment on film, but I'll post the moment after.
The second moment was at the reception--Pete was doing his usual absent-minded, semi-weird-place-to-touch-Jenny-thing on the top seam on the back of Jenny's gorgeous dress and she was sort of twitching a bit (I'm betting it half tickled, half itched). Then she broke eye contact and looked up at him, broke into a huge smile and sort of leaned into his shoulder.
Yeah, they'll make it just fine.
Past that, this weekend was David's birthday and one year of us reconnecting and dating. We were planning to go to Cedar Point, but since Divideds Day with P&G was just a few weeks ago, we decided to do Cincinnati instead. The city has sooooooooo much to offer. We ended up goofing off looking at furniture most of Saturday (Yikes! I have a say in major purchses! This is COOL! And majorly freeeeeeeeeaks me out!) then went down the the river for a festival.
I really liked Old Crowe Medicine Show (I think their CD is on my buy list--to giv eyou an idea of sound, they have played with Gillian Welch and on the Prairie Home Companion) and was amibivilant about Madeski Martin and Wood. I also discovered I like Wilco much better in concert than recorded. An added bonus was that David got the chorus from "I'm The Man Who Loves You" stuck in his head and sung it to me all day Sunday. Who doesn't like that?
The great meal of the weekend was at a local restaurant named "Honey" that's rated in Cincinnati's top ten places for brunch (he actually has two of the top ten within walking distance of his house) and had this incredible honey-laced polenta with berry compote. I'm amazed. Anybody know how to make polenta?
A Useless Musing
I had a jelly donut today. I really didn't want the donut, but I wanted the red filling. If I had had a spoon I probably woun't have eaten the donut, I would have just scooped out the red gel.
I like the red gel that much.
Is red a recognized flavor?
I kinda think it is. How many of you knew exactly the taste I was describing when I said "red". 'Cause it's not really cherry or strawberry or raspberry or pomegrante or whatever other red fruit. Kinda like trying to classify Prince. He's not actaully a prince or even very prince-y. And sometimes he's not even Prince. He's The Artist Formerly Known As Prince. It's just the flavor informally known as red.
It really seems like it should work. Heck, an orange is orange and tastes like an orange, at least in English. I remember asking for a vodka and orange drink in Spain and I used the word
anaranjado instead of
naranja; all I got was a weird look. I ended up with a vodka and lemon instead.
Adding to this important issue, we have the Eddie Bauer colors. Things aren't green or purple, they are dark pepper and eggplant. Why shouldn't I start calling green peppers greens? Then again, now that I think about it we do call general rabbit food "greens". Never mind.
So it turns out I'm Cheer Bear.
 | Cheer Bear
You're the Care Bear cheerleader! Your spunky personality and optimisim lifts everyone's spirit. Though you want everyone to be happy, you stand your ground on issues you feel strongly about and this can bring disunity among your friends. Despite this, you are a true believer in working together. |
|
I'm in a much better mood than yesterday.
What the F***K is WRONG with this Country?!
I. am. so. angry.When did it become open season on students? Sure it's hunting season, is there some sicko out there issuing permits to all the local psychos? NOBODY is so sick that this is permissable. Wanna talk tangible evil? These guys got it.
Last week I was sick to my stomach about
the Colorado incident (and I don't give a flying f* that he left a suicide/apology note. It only means he meant every bit of the sexual assault and murder) and my blood boiled when I thought about
that principal in Wisconsin shot because a student was pissed off about a disciplinary action. And as I type there's a school in
Vegas on lockdown while they look for a student who was spotted on campus in posession of a gun.
I don't think there's a teacher or a student in our schools that hasn't wondered what we'd do if a shooter showed up. Heck, I worry every time the whole school gets together for a pep rally.
The fact that that thought even occurs to me is VILE. It is DIGUSTING. It is
NOT what I signed on for.
And I'm annoyed by the whole school security hysteria in the media. I teach with my door locked. We lock all periphery doors. We make visitors sign in. We have community members as security guards.
But it's never going to be enough. We're not a military institution, we're an American school. Should we become military and lock down every day? Because teenagers are so into conformity. I'm not willing to live like that.
I'm watching CNN at school right now. I never do that. But I want to know. Who is he to take revenge on little girls (ages 6-13) for something that happened 20 years ago? How the heck do the Amish Tee someone off enough to justify that?
And I'm equally pissed off about the mass kidnapping in Baghdad.
Pissed, pissed, pissed.
You probably don't want to talk to me today.
When I joke about shaving my cat, this is what I'm thinking.
