A really lovely trailer for PostSecret.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
And once again, the NYC school systems proves it fails.
This kind of shit, pisses me the fuck off. Follow the link to the article and read that first, then read my rant.
A Teacher Grows Disillusioned After a ‘Fail’ Becomes a ‘Pass’
To everyone who was not forced to suffer through the NYC school system (or worse), consider yourselves incredibly lucky.
I, myself, have seen this first hand. I only just graduated High School last year and let me tell you, that's not even the half of it.
A couple of years ago, they lowered the passing Regents (New York State's standardized test for all high school students and certain, advanced junior high students) from 65 to 55, the student now only requiring a 65 or higher to obtain a Regents Diploma and a 55 to pass the course. It's disgusting. The reason they had to do this is because teachers now rarely teach more then what's (supposed to be) on the Regents Exams. Sometimes, on rare occasions, you'll get a teacher who'll break the mold and teach it in a new way, or add more then simply the standard, required curriculum, but other then that, you're lucky if you get out learning anything of any worth. Furthermore, so many kids are bad at testing, yet they do nothing about this, offering no alternatives.
I agree there needs to be certain standards set in education, but when it's all about testing, it falls horribly short.
And this whole "45 for showing up once" thing is also relatively new. Before, when I was a Freshman and maybe even Sophomore it was 20 for showing up at least once.
The whole fucking system is fucked. Rather then set higher fucking standards for teachers, they lower the standards for students to pass. Who the hell do they think they're helping here? It's cheating, that's all.
So far, the only thing I've seen done right in the Education system here is that community colleges are now allowing people who didn't graduate High school to enter college and allowing them to receive diplomas as they study towards their Associates or Bachelors degrees. In this way, they're helping people who don't necessarily test well, or who don't do well in the high school environment work in a better, more educational and sane system. People are all upset about it, but I think it's a good thing.
Is that really a fucking priority? Honestly, if my kid flunked out of their Senior Year of High School, and rather then be able to take summer school would have to go for ANOTHER year of high school, they're not going to fucking Senior Prom. That is something for GRADUATING seniors, not brats who take it upon themselves not to go to school and flunk out.
And, that mother needs to understand something before telling this guy to be a man: Her daughter needs to grow up and be a woman. SHE took it upon herself to cut class. SHE took it upon herself to not do her homework. SHE failed more then half her tests, and cut the day of the final. SHE is the one who's supposed to be going to college soon, not the teacher. Graduating from High School represents becoming an adult and taking responsibility for her own actions. That's supposed to start in AT LEAST Senior Year.
Obviously, her behavior shows that she is NOT ready to take responsibility, and NEEDS to repeat the fucking grade.
A Teacher Grows Disillusioned After a ‘Fail’ Becomes a ‘Pass’
To everyone who was not forced to suffer through the NYC school system (or worse), consider yourselves incredibly lucky.
I, myself, have seen this first hand. I only just graduated High School last year and let me tell you, that's not even the half of it.
A couple of years ago, they lowered the passing Regents (New York State's standardized test for all high school students and certain, advanced junior high students) from 65 to 55, the student now only requiring a 65 or higher to obtain a Regents Diploma and a 55 to pass the course. It's disgusting. The reason they had to do this is because teachers now rarely teach more then what's (supposed to be) on the Regents Exams. Sometimes, on rare occasions, you'll get a teacher who'll break the mold and teach it in a new way, or add more then simply the standard, required curriculum, but other then that, you're lucky if you get out learning anything of any worth. Furthermore, so many kids are bad at testing, yet they do nothing about this, offering no alternatives.
I agree there needs to be certain standards set in education, but when it's all about testing, it falls horribly short.
And this whole "45 for showing up once" thing is also relatively new. Before, when I was a Freshman and maybe even Sophomore it was 20 for showing up at least once.
The whole fucking system is fucked. Rather then set higher fucking standards for teachers, they lower the standards for students to pass. Who the hell do they think they're helping here? It's cheating, that's all.
So far, the only thing I've seen done right in the Education system here is that community colleges are now allowing people who didn't graduate High school to enter college and allowing them to receive diplomas as they study towards their Associates or Bachelors degrees. In this way, they're helping people who don't necessarily test well, or who don't do well in the high school environment work in a better, more educational and sane system. People are all upset about it, but I think it's a good thing.
From Michigan, Mr. Lampros recalled one comment that Mrs. Fernandez made during their meeting about why it was important for Indira to graduate. She couldn’t afford to pay for her to attend another senior prom in another senior year
Is that really a fucking priority? Honestly, if my kid flunked out of their Senior Year of High School, and rather then be able to take summer school would have to go for ANOTHER year of high school, they're not going to fucking Senior Prom. That is something for GRADUATING seniors, not brats who take it upon themselves not to go to school and flunk out.
And, that mother needs to understand something before telling this guy to be a man: Her daughter needs to grow up and be a woman. SHE took it upon herself to cut class. SHE took it upon herself to not do her homework. SHE failed more then half her tests, and cut the day of the final. SHE is the one who's supposed to be going to college soon, not the teacher. Graduating from High School represents becoming an adult and taking responsibility for her own actions. That's supposed to start in AT LEAST Senior Year.
Obviously, her behavior shows that she is NOT ready to take responsibility, and NEEDS to repeat the fucking grade.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
The Cloverfield/Ethan Haas/Idiocy Connection
I saw this trailer when I went to go see Transformers a few weeks ago (which was awesome, by the way) and was instantly hooked, as was just about almost everyone else that saw that movie. All you see is a surprise party, which becomes a panicked run through the streets of New York from a monster the audience can't see.
It is freakin' awesome. (More on the trailer, movie and cast can be found at 1-18-08 Pedia, a Wiki I Admin and edit with a couple of awesome people)
Now, somewhere (I thing on IMBD) someone went and said "This is connected to Ethan Haas" and everyone went and Googled "Ethan Haas," and found two websites that both work in the viral marketing style that 1-18-08 was done in. Well, I bit when I found there was a connection.
Then, a week later, J.J. Abrams went and said there was no connection. Gotcha, concentrate on 1-18-08.com. Right!
Well, now, one would think that it would be the end of that line of discussion. But it wasn't. Because people are stupid. So, incredibly, blindingly stupid. It really, really, hurts how dumb they are. For instance, there are a lot (I mean, a LOT) of hoax websites out that just popped out of the woodwork when 1-18-08 aired in theaters, and they all claim to be a part of the viral marketing scheme of J.J. Abrams and Paramount pictures. Almost ALL of them claim a connection between Ethan Haas and 1-18-08. And guess what? People are so fucking stupid, and so fucking Internet inept, they fucking use those sites as PROOF that there's a connection, or at least PROOF they're legit.
One girl, for instance, claimed that the Ethan Haas Myspace HAD to be legit because it had pictures from the ethanhaaswasright website and from the 1-18-08.com site. She didn't seem to understand the print screen option.
People STILL do this! They keep looking for a connection that doesn't exist, has been refuted by the PEOPLE IN CONTROL and STILL! STILL they look.
Mindless fools.
Just now, some guy went to a Myspace who's username was "SlushoFan" and decided, because the guy mentioned three J.J. Abrams projects AND Ethan Haas, he MUST be connected. 'Cause, you know, I can't make a MySpace claiming to be Lady Diana and post up actual pictures of her and NOT be here, right?
People are so fucking dumb.
It is freakin' awesome. (More on the trailer, movie and cast can be found at 1-18-08 Pedia, a Wiki I Admin and edit with a couple of awesome people)
Now, somewhere (I thing on IMBD) someone went and said "This is connected to Ethan Haas" and everyone went and Googled "Ethan Haas," and found two websites that both work in the viral marketing style that 1-18-08 was done in. Well, I bit when I found there was a connection.
Then, a week later, J.J. Abrams went and said there was no connection. Gotcha, concentrate on 1-18-08.com. Right!
Well, now, one would think that it would be the end of that line of discussion. But it wasn't. Because people are stupid. So, incredibly, blindingly stupid. It really, really, hurts how dumb they are. For instance, there are a lot (I mean, a LOT) of hoax websites out that just popped out of the woodwork when 1-18-08 aired in theaters, and they all claim to be a part of the viral marketing scheme of J.J. Abrams and Paramount pictures. Almost ALL of them claim a connection between Ethan Haas and 1-18-08. And guess what? People are so fucking stupid, and so fucking Internet inept, they fucking use those sites as PROOF that there's a connection, or at least PROOF they're legit.
One girl, for instance, claimed that the Ethan Haas Myspace HAD to be legit because it had pictures from the ethanhaaswasright website and from the 1-18-08.com site. She didn't seem to understand the print screen option.
People STILL do this! They keep looking for a connection that doesn't exist, has been refuted by the PEOPLE IN CONTROL and STILL! STILL they look.
Mindless fools.
Just now, some guy went to a Myspace who's username was "SlushoFan" and decided, because the guy mentioned three J.J. Abrams projects AND Ethan Haas, he MUST be connected. 'Cause, you know, I can't make a MySpace claiming to be Lady Diana and post up actual pictures of her and NOT be here, right?
People are so fucking dumb.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Character Bashing
As I lay here hoping desperately that I'll get tired soon so I don't end up dead tired when I have to meet up with that lover of mine (and hoping my mother will GLADLY front me another $20 for food stuffs) I find myself wondering about the great phenomenon of character bashing. Why? Well, with the last two Harry Potter books, the relationship between Ginny and Harry has progressed to being mutually loving, as have the relations between Remus and Tonks and the slashers are not pleased.
Now, don't get me wrong, I love Draco/Harry slash, and absolutely ADORE Sirius/Remus slash. This, however, does not mean I hate Tonks and Ginny, or even J.K. Rowling, for making het canon in the books. Nor do I attack the writers who don't comply with my idea of a perfect Harry Potter Ship. I'm a great fan of the "Don't Like It, Don't Read It" philosophy.
This is not the only time I've seen this. There are countless fandoms where, upon the moment a relationship is established that is not what a group of fan-brats hates, one of the characters in the relationship (usually the woman) is bashed relentlessly in fanfiction, and their popularity plummets. One, looking through Road to El Dorado fan fiction, I found many a slasher killing off Chel for getting in between Tulio and Miguel's apparently budding relationship. Now, to set aside the question "Why do two guys who are close friends have to be gay?" let's look into this whole Chel-hate thing. Well, she's a cool character, who moved along the plot perfectly. She wasn't whiny, saved their butts more then once, and had a great personality (not to mention, she's one of the very few chubby, curvy and hot female cartoon characters). She doesn't complain, she's not whiny, and, to be honest, is lacking in a lot of obvious female stereotypes. Hell, the woman is clever as hell, and while she does use sex appeal to run a con, wouldn't you?
So, why, other then getting in the way of slashers, does she get so much hate?
Wait, that's the only reason? Lame.
Ginny Weasley is also an awesome character. She's a natural jinxer, is very down to Earth, and is assertive. All those equal awesome.
So folks, please, stop the bashing. Love the women, they need the love.
Now, don't get me wrong, I love Draco/Harry slash, and absolutely ADORE Sirius/Remus slash. This, however, does not mean I hate Tonks and Ginny, or even J.K. Rowling, for making het canon in the books. Nor do I attack the writers who don't comply with my idea of a perfect Harry Potter Ship. I'm a great fan of the "Don't Like It, Don't Read It" philosophy.
This is not the only time I've seen this. There are countless fandoms where, upon the moment a relationship is established that is not what a group of fan-brats hates, one of the characters in the relationship (usually the woman) is bashed relentlessly in fanfiction, and their popularity plummets. One, looking through Road to El Dorado fan fiction, I found many a slasher killing off Chel for getting in between Tulio and Miguel's apparently budding relationship. Now, to set aside the question "Why do two guys who are close friends have to be gay?" let's look into this whole Chel-hate thing. Well, she's a cool character, who moved along the plot perfectly. She wasn't whiny, saved their butts more then once, and had a great personality (not to mention, she's one of the very few chubby, curvy and hot female cartoon characters). She doesn't complain, she's not whiny, and, to be honest, is lacking in a lot of obvious female stereotypes. Hell, the woman is clever as hell, and while she does use sex appeal to run a con, wouldn't you?
So, why, other then getting in the way of slashers, does she get so much hate?
Wait, that's the only reason? Lame.
Ginny Weasley is also an awesome character. She's a natural jinxer, is very down to Earth, and is assertive. All those equal awesome.
So folks, please, stop the bashing. Love the women, they need the love.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Lonely First Post
Well folks (you know, the absolutely none) this is the first, lonely, lonely post, and I tell you now, it will be short.
As of now, Cain (fiance) and I are working on not only writing a novel, but a series of novels. So for we have about eight or nine books plotted out, and the first book ready to be written (if only I could pull him away from Ultimate Spider-Man and he could pull me away from The Sandman). On top of that, we still need to finish building the world our story is set in, which is frikkin huge.
Of what I'm willing to share, our books are about a group of four mercenaries. There's a Sorcerer, a warrior, a bard and a ranger (who's also the only female in the group). It's what I suppose would be called a dark fantasy with quite a bit of humor to it, even if they do run into some rather creepy creatures.
We hope to get the books published professionally, and also hope to be able to make a series of movies (most likely CG. We're also going to make sure we're standing over everyone's should and make sure it doesn't go the way of Eragon) as well as an MMORPG (manly men only role play gnomes.
Ambitious? Most certainly.
As of now, Cain (fiance) and I are working on not only writing a novel, but a series of novels. So for we have about eight or nine books plotted out, and the first book ready to be written (if only I could pull him away from Ultimate Spider-Man and he could pull me away from The Sandman). On top of that, we still need to finish building the world our story is set in, which is frikkin huge.
Of what I'm willing to share, our books are about a group of four mercenaries. There's a Sorcerer, a warrior, a bard and a ranger (who's also the only female in the group). It's what I suppose would be called a dark fantasy with quite a bit of humor to it, even if they do run into some rather creepy creatures.
We hope to get the books published professionally, and also hope to be able to make a series of movies (most likely CG. We're also going to make sure we're standing over everyone's should and make sure it doesn't go the way of Eragon) as well as an MMORPG (manly men only role play gnomes.
Ambitious? Most certainly.
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