Built To Spill is the second best thing to come out of Idaho. I love potatoes but Built To Spill has been around for fifteen plus years. Doug Martsch is a genius and a great guitar player.
I saw Built To Spill play at Terminal 5 with Dinosaur Jr. Again, don't say these guys are not awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsxwmXFUNLE
Friday, January 21, 2011
10 Days Until I See These Guys In Williamsburg
Yes, I do love other bands besides Phish.
The Hold Steady are awesome. My friend, Joe Luisi and I saw them for the bargain low price of $18 at the Beacon Theater and in ten days, we will be seeing them again, this time in Williamsburg, on a school night.
If you don't like the Hold Steady, you should. Pretty soon, these guys will be playing bigger venues where I'll probably see old students who'll say, "Mister, these guys rock!"
Don't say I didn't tell you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNBcDsL_gRk&feature=related
The Hold Steady are awesome. My friend, Joe Luisi and I saw them for the bargain low price of $18 at the Beacon Theater and in ten days, we will be seeing them again, this time in Williamsburg, on a school night.
If you don't like the Hold Steady, you should. Pretty soon, these guys will be playing bigger venues where I'll probably see old students who'll say, "Mister, these guys rock!"
Don't say I didn't tell you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNBcDsL_gRk&feature=related
Another Wonderful Example of the DOE's Idiocy
Last week, the Staten Island Advance ran a feature where students would receive gifts if they ended their truancy. Old Navy gift cards and the like. The article featured the truants of another middle school and how the principal encouraged these educational miscreants to show up and receive their education. If they met standards and benchmarks, they would receive their prizes.
So...
This does not upset me as a teacher but as a parent, I'm pissed.
Why?
I have two daughters in PS 58. They wake up at 6:30 and they are dressed by 7:00. They go to my inlaws where they get breakfast and then at 8:00, my mother-in-law drives them to school. They learn, socialize, play at Latch Key and receive threes and fours on their report cards. Their prize.....
Nothing, absolutely nothing. I don't get a property tax break. My E-Z Pass is not reduced. I don't get free parking at the Ferry Lot.
What I learned is that parents who neglect their children reap the rewards of the DOE while us decent parents get nothing. In the 1970s and 1980s, we didn't get prizes, we received an education and made something of ourselves.
The shame is that if these parents knew this existed, they would be furious as me.
So...
This does not upset me as a teacher but as a parent, I'm pissed.
Why?
I have two daughters in PS 58. They wake up at 6:30 and they are dressed by 7:00. They go to my inlaws where they get breakfast and then at 8:00, my mother-in-law drives them to school. They learn, socialize, play at Latch Key and receive threes and fours on their report cards. Their prize.....
Nothing, absolutely nothing. I don't get a property tax break. My E-Z Pass is not reduced. I don't get free parking at the Ferry Lot.
What I learned is that parents who neglect their children reap the rewards of the DOE while us decent parents get nothing. In the 1970s and 1980s, we didn't get prizes, we received an education and made something of ourselves.
The shame is that if these parents knew this existed, they would be furious as me.
Parenting----Levine Style
So last night Sophia, who has been recovering from a hacking cough (she's down to a pack of Pall Mall's a day) begins to hack up her lungs, bronchial tubes and throat. Coughing incessantly and then finally stopping, Sophia stomps her feet and cries out.....
"God damn it cough!"
Michelle and I died laughing. There is no punishment for a good laugh!
"God damn it cough!"
Michelle and I died laughing. There is no punishment for a good laugh!
Monday, January 10, 2011
If You Don't Trust Politicians and You Have A Pension Read This.
Please take this link and send it to as many cops, teachers, firemen, sanitation and government workers as you possibly can. The politicians (term used loosely) who cater to the megarich and powerful feel that we are to blame for everything. No one goes into the public sector for the money but now these corporate a**holes want our pensions, something that we pay into and expect to receive. In these uncertain times, well, I'm not so sure that my pension or Michelle's pension are even safe.
Rahm Emmanuel, another scu*bag Jew and the speaker of the famous "F**k the UAW!" quote during GM's bailout is running for Mayor of Chicago. This is what he intends to do to the thousands of current and retired public sector employees of the Windy City.
If he gets away with it, it gives Lord Bloomberg a clear path to go after our pensions. When will the middle class wake up and realize that it is our time to repeat Rahm's words and state back to them, "F**k You!"
If you take away things from the public sector, like seniority protections (Are public sector unions listening? Last week, Lord Mayor announced that he wishes to overhaul seniority to 1877 when corruption reigned supreme) and pensions-do you think we are going to sit idly by and say "Thank you sir, may I have another?" Who would want to become a cop, a fireman, a teacher, if the few benefits we do receive are taken away?
I think politicians are in for a rude awakening if an educated middle class/lower class wakes up. However, this is America and The Bachelor is on tonight.
http://perdidostreetschool.blogspot.com/2011/01/theyre-coming-for-your-pension.html
Rahm Emmanuel, another scu*bag Jew and the speaker of the famous "F**k the UAW!" quote during GM's bailout is running for Mayor of Chicago. This is what he intends to do to the thousands of current and retired public sector employees of the Windy City.
If he gets away with it, it gives Lord Bloomberg a clear path to go after our pensions. When will the middle class wake up and realize that it is our time to repeat Rahm's words and state back to them, "F**k You!"
If you take away things from the public sector, like seniority protections (Are public sector unions listening? Last week, Lord Mayor announced that he wishes to overhaul seniority to 1877 when corruption reigned supreme) and pensions-do you think we are going to sit idly by and say "Thank you sir, may I have another?" Who would want to become a cop, a fireman, a teacher, if the few benefits we do receive are taken away?
I think politicians are in for a rude awakening if an educated middle class/lower class wakes up. However, this is America and The Bachelor is on tonight.
http://perdidostreetschool.blogspot.com/2011/01/theyre-coming-for-your-pension.html
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Compliments
I always seem to be modest about taking a compliment. I appreciate compliments but if I let them go to my head, I think my head would turn into a parade float. Let's face it, teachers are the new lawyers. Everyone from the President, the Governor, the Mayor on down believe that teachers are the cause of society's problems, from poverty to the Wall Street Crisis, its the teachers stupid.
My students are my joy. I take pride that an old student will stop me and say hello then transform themselves back to when they were in my class. They tell stories, they ask about Michelle, they ask about the girls, they ask if I still hate politicians and they ask if I still teach at 61. When I say "Yes!", they are amazed. They ask if the school is still the same, they ask if so-and-so is still there and they ask if I still do this lesson or that lesson.
I also receive student observers. When you become a teacher (I ADVISE ALL OF YOU IN THIS CLIMATE OF CORPORATE SPONSORED POLITICIANS RUNNING SORRY RUINING EDUCATION----DON'T BECOME A TEACHER) before student teaching, you have to observe teachers in a middle or high school for 30 hours. Bill Murphy, my AP, seems to point all social studies teachers to Room 205, 221, 224 where they meet me. I have never discouraged people to stray from teaching, I have encouraged them to find jobs outside of New York City and now with Andrew "DINO (Democrat in Name Only) Cuomo, I advise them to get out of New York. I encourage them to find a unionzed state that did not receive RttT money (Obama's bullshit program) to teach. They observe the best classes, the worst classes and the middle. Some sit for two classes, some three and some spend the day. I never tell observers that I was this good. I'm still not as great as I could be. Teaching is not stagnation, teaching is an evolving process and until you step into my size ten Rockports, teaching is not easy. To become successful, it takes time and patience. Its not about 8 to 3 or summers off or the pension (HA!) or the TDA (MAX it out!). Its about seeing yourself from your student's perspective, your parent's perspective and your administration's perspective. This is why teachers develop in five-to-seven years. The first few years is analyzing yourself and evolving, its about what's good, what's bad and what's ok. Get past that and you'll see that you can do it.
An old student observer came by and complimented me that I was a great teacher to watch. I used my modesty and told him I still suck. However, I did see Mr. Murphy and told him that I did receive a compliment. Using my rapier wit and sly sense of sarcasm, I told him, "Maybe I don't suck."
To my students thanks for the compliments. I am glad that years after you left 61, you still remember who your good teachers were and that makes me happy.
My students are my joy. I take pride that an old student will stop me and say hello then transform themselves back to when they were in my class. They tell stories, they ask about Michelle, they ask about the girls, they ask if I still hate politicians and they ask if I still teach at 61. When I say "Yes!", they are amazed. They ask if the school is still the same, they ask if so-and-so is still there and they ask if I still do this lesson or that lesson.
I also receive student observers. When you become a teacher (I ADVISE ALL OF YOU IN THIS CLIMATE OF CORPORATE SPONSORED POLITICIANS RUNNING SORRY RUINING EDUCATION----DON'T BECOME A TEACHER) before student teaching, you have to observe teachers in a middle or high school for 30 hours. Bill Murphy, my AP, seems to point all social studies teachers to Room 205, 221, 224 where they meet me. I have never discouraged people to stray from teaching, I have encouraged them to find jobs outside of New York City and now with Andrew "DINO (Democrat in Name Only) Cuomo, I advise them to get out of New York. I encourage them to find a unionzed state that did not receive RttT money (Obama's bullshit program) to teach. They observe the best classes, the worst classes and the middle. Some sit for two classes, some three and some spend the day. I never tell observers that I was this good. I'm still not as great as I could be. Teaching is not stagnation, teaching is an evolving process and until you step into my size ten Rockports, teaching is not easy. To become successful, it takes time and patience. Its not about 8 to 3 or summers off or the pension (HA!) or the TDA (MAX it out!). Its about seeing yourself from your student's perspective, your parent's perspective and your administration's perspective. This is why teachers develop in five-to-seven years. The first few years is analyzing yourself and evolving, its about what's good, what's bad and what's ok. Get past that and you'll see that you can do it.
An old student observer came by and complimented me that I was a great teacher to watch. I used my modesty and told him I still suck. However, I did see Mr. Murphy and told him that I did receive a compliment. Using my rapier wit and sly sense of sarcasm, I told him, "Maybe I don't suck."
To my students thanks for the compliments. I am glad that years after you left 61, you still remember who your good teachers were and that makes me happy.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Public Education-Andrew Cuomo Style
Andrew Cuomo, our new governor, is truly a DINO (Democrat In Name Only). His cuts in education will certainly lead to more layoffs, less funding and a dumbed-down generation of educated children in public schools. Unfortunately, I CAN NOT afford private schools nor can I afford to send my children to Catholic schools, especially when I am Jewish.
One of the goals of these corporate-whore oligarchs is to cut education. If you cut education, you develop a populace that will not complain nor be concerned about the fact they are being screwed by the rich. The media praises these cuts as austerity but in the long run, our children will fall further behind the Chinese, the Indians and even the Finns (who promoted unionized teachers and provide benefits to all teachers).
Andrew Cuomo, as much as you should be applauded for cutting your salary, go have relations with yourself. You do not represent my interests, my wife's interests, my children's interests or for any case, any public school child in New York State.
http://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2011/01/cuomo-cut-taxes-on-wealthy-and-slash.html
One of the goals of these corporate-whore oligarchs is to cut education. If you cut education, you develop a populace that will not complain nor be concerned about the fact they are being screwed by the rich. The media praises these cuts as austerity but in the long run, our children will fall further behind the Chinese, the Indians and even the Finns (who promoted unionized teachers and provide benefits to all teachers).
Andrew Cuomo, as much as you should be applauded for cutting your salary, go have relations with yourself. You do not represent my interests, my wife's interests, my children's interests or for any case, any public school child in New York State.
http://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2011/01/cuomo-cut-taxes-on-wealthy-and-slash.html
Monday, January 3, 2011
Some Tips For The UFT/AFT
I doubt they will ever listen to us rank and file but here goes some suggestions.....
I would add a few more items to the list and I'm going to expand the wish list to the AFT as well:
Mike and Randi will probably never listen. I am a 15 year teacher who is halfway home. I am also a breadwinner and a person who still loves his job. However, I suck, make too money and need to be fired by these corporate whore politicians.
1. A contract that includes the "City pattern" with no givebacks!.
2. No ATR time limit, ever!
3. No changing the "last in, first out" layoff list.
4. No weakening of our "due process" rights.
5. The right to a fair and independent investigation for alleged misconduct.
6. Elimination of the PIP+ termination program.
7. Teacher input into the teacher evaluation program.
I would add a few more items to the list and I'm going to expand the wish list to the AFT as well:
1. Learn how to frame issues in a winning way (For example, the UFT has framed the TDR fight as "These reports are loaded with errors, so they shouldn't be published." WRONG! That allows the DOE to correct the mistakes and then publish the reports. The CORRECT WAY to frame this issue is: "These reports have 35% margins of error when using just a couple of years of data, a 25% margin of error when using five years of data and a 12% margin of error when using ten years of data. Value Added Teacher Data Reports are WORSE than useless - they are harmful to both teachers and students, will unfairly end thecareers of many good teachers and will not improve education in any way.")
2. Don't trust Bloomberg/Black/Obama/Duncan/Gates/Broad on ANYTHING. How many times do you have to have Bloomberg go back on deals you've made with him before you realize his word is about as valuable and trustworthy as his weather sense? How often do you have to to have Obama screw teachers on policy before you realize you should be fighting him, not supporting him? How many times do you have to hear Gates say teachers are paid too much, should be fired at will and suck before you stop inviting him to conventions and doing joint interviews at NEWSWEEK with him?)
3. Promote a positive agenda ofprogressive , humanistic education that teaches the WHOLE CHILD, not just the part that works at standardized test scores. Say how damaging a test-based public education system that bases teacher pay, teacher evaluations and school ratings ONLY on test scores is.
Mike and Randi will probably never listen. I am a 15 year teacher who is halfway home. I am also a breadwinner and a person who still loves his job. However, I suck, make too money and need to be fired by these corporate whore politicians.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
For Anyone Who Voted For Andrew Cuomo
I didn't. I voted for the former madam. However, if you are middle class, a public sector employee and voted for Cuomo, you are a expletive deleted idiot.
Who's important in NY State? Millionaires, of course. Newly-placed Governor Andrew Cuomo has laid down the gauntlet. 900 people can lose their jobs, and that's OK with him. But it would be unacceptable to continue a tax on those making more than 200K per year. Apparently, it's alright for people to have no income whatsoever. But top earners aren't making enough for our new governor.
Incredibly, the 900 layoffs are said to face opposition from "special interests." The special interest, in this case, is working people interested in continuing as working people. Unions, says the article, refused to contribute 250 million in savings. Yet Cuomo, by declining to continue this tax, is costing the state four times that.
It's outrageous on the face of it that Cuomo would favor the rich over the middle class. But it's nothing new. President Obama just passed a "compromise" that breaks his promise to eliminate tax breaks for the top 2% of the population. So Cuomo is pretty much status quo. Watch later this week for his specific plan to take on the unions. Perish forbid working people should have any power at all in the United States of America.
Are we ever gonna wake up and begin electing people who give a damn about us? Or are we gonna stick with folks like Cuomo, Obama, and Bloomberg, who clean the streets and make life better only for the rich, while the rest of us are left picking up the tab?
Who's important in NY State? Millionaires, of course. Newly-placed Governor Andrew Cuomo has laid down the gauntlet. 900 people can lose their jobs, and that's OK with him. But it would be unacceptable to continue a tax on those making more than 200K per year. Apparently, it's alright for people to have no income whatsoever. But top earners aren't making enough for our new governor.
Incredibly, the 900 layoffs are said to face opposition from "special interests." The special interest, in this case, is working people interested in continuing as working people. Unions, says the article, refused to contribute 250 million in savings. Yet Cuomo, by declining to continue this tax, is costing the state four times that.
It's outrageous on the face of it that Cuomo would favor the rich over the middle class. But it's nothing new. President Obama just passed a "compromise" that breaks his promise to eliminate tax breaks for the top 2% of the population. So Cuomo is pretty much status quo. Watch later this week for his specific plan to take on the unions. Perish forbid working people should have any power at all in the United States of America.
Are we ever gonna wake up and begin electing people who give a damn about us? Or are we gonna stick with folks like Cuomo, Obama, and Bloomberg, who clean the streets and make life better only for the rich, while the rest of us are left picking up the tab?
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