*Update: I cannot respond to everyone, I have been trying my best. If there is anything specific you want me to address (or if you are set on changing my mind) feel free to shoot me a DM
First of all, I hope this is the right place to post this.
Second of all, I might have an opinion to which y’all disagree, that’s fine. Let us have a discussion, maybe y’all can change my mind.
I am trying to understand what has happened to my large, decently rated, Houston (Tx) suburb school district. I was a student there about 8-10 years ago. In English class we would always read classics. Some that pop back into mind: Huckleberry Finn, The Odyssey, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, etc. I have returned to the same school district as a substitute teacher, and to my dismay, neither “on-level” nor the “advanced” classes are reading classics anymore. A teacher even told me they no longer read The Odyssey! It was meant to be a brag!
What the classics have been replaced with are primarily all YA lit books. Coming to mind are books such as, Dear Martin, Scythe, The Hate You Give, Divergent, Percy Jackson.
I’m a lover of reading, and YA lit has its place (but maybe not in 11th/12th grade English classrooms). Classics have been truly time-tested, they are referenced to this day in pop-culture, there are academic discussions about them, etc.
I want to know what y’all think about this change. I for one, despise it.
I dislike it because I see students who are thoroughly not going to be prepared for college, I dislike it because they are not learning how to be critical and decipher tough texts, and lastly, I see it as an overall lowering of the curriculum only to push undeserving students through. An over all cheapening of the education. Can it even still be called an education?
If your answer is “yes” I would love to know what measures your school is taking.
Background
Redistricting happens every 10 years after the release of the Census data. Here's an article from the Washington Post called "Redistricting, Explained" (from 2011) that gives a good overview of the redistricting process. Note: the Washington Post is behind a metered paywall (they you a few free articles a month, so take that into consideration before clicking).
Here's a non-paywalled article from the Associated Press about how the redistricting process has gone this year. The Virginia Supreme Court approved the maps unanimously.
The Virginia Public Access Project has released a set of tools and visualizations to make it easier to learn about the new districts you are now living in, and what impact that will have on who represents you.
The final maps plus analysis for:
Bonus links:
-
Here's the page that has contains links to the three draft plans that were proposed: https://www.vpap.org/redistricting/plans/
-
Here's a Twitter thread from VPAP explaining more about how to use the tools on the site. Thread [minus images and links] copied below:
>VPAP has posted exclusive analysis of statewide maps of proposed state House and Senate districts, which consultants will present to #Redistricting Commission on Monday. [Link] Follow this thread for detailed explanation of the tools found on our site. -->
>For each plan, there is a statewide map with blue/red shading for the partisan lean of the proposed districts. Purple are more competitive, based on 2016 presidential results. [Link] You can click into a district -->
>The district page shows an interactive map, which are pretty easy to navigate (have not tried on mobile). You can zoom in and explore. [Link] Below the map, you can find charts on population and demographics -->
>Charts include a breakdown of population of the district by locality
>Finally, there
... keep reading on reddit ➡
https://www.courts.state.co.us/userfiles/file/Court_Probation/11th_Judicial_District/Chaffee/cases%20of%20interest/21CR78/4855_001.pdf
Here’s a screenshot of the job post https://imgur.com/a/acVntSN
Here’s what I saw on Reddit last week, A teacher mocking the technology in a school.
https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/qyj74z/sometimes_teachers_need_a_sarcastic_refresher_on/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb
This is the reason why nothing works.
I know teachers who make more than what they’re offering to a new IT direct.
If you’re going to pay peanuts it going to get monkeys.
Hhahahahahahahaha
This suit is in regard to the 506, 339, and 918 Patents. Links to documents below.
All have the following point in the complaint- Samsung had knowledge of the ’339 Patent no later than August 2, 2021 via its access to Netlist’s patent portfolio docket.
What Netlist is asking for?
WHEREFORE, Netlist respectfully requests that this Court enter judgment in its favor ordering, finding, declaring, and/or awarding Netlist relief as follows:
A. that Samsung infringes the Patents-in-Suit;
B. all equitable relief the Court deems just and proper as a result of Samsung’s infringement;
C. an award of damages resulting from Samsung’s acts of infringement in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 284;
D. that Samsung’s infringement of the Patents-in-Suit is willful;
E. enhanced damages pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284;
F. that this is an exceptional case and awarding Netlist its reasonable attorneys’ fees pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 285;
G. an accounting for acts of infringement and supplemental damages, without limitation, prejudgment and post-judgment interest; and
H. such other equitable relief which may be requested and to which Netlist is entitled.
I’m shocked that we’re expecting thousands of students to flood into our school buildings tomorrow with the current omicron wave. My guess is that most districts will make the shift within 7-10 days. Why not just do it now? Save everyone the stress, reduce the spread of Covid that you ABSOLUTELY KNOW is going to start tomorrow.
Ugh.
A DA in GA has the Goods to Take Down trump
When it comes to possible criminal prosecution of the defeated former president for seeking to overthrow the 2020 election, most attention has understandably focused on the Justice Department. As the American people’s chief prosecutor, the department is conducting a massive investigation and prosecution effort of those involved in the coup effort.
But it is a mistake to ignore the critical role that others play in upholding the rule of law and deterring future coups.
The Associated Press reports: “The prosecutor weighing whether Donald Trump and others committed crimes by trying to pressure Georgia officials to overturn Joe Biden’s presidential election victory said a decision on whether to bring charges could come as early as the first half of this year.” Fani Willis, district attorney for Fulton County, Ga., says she is “making solid progress, and she’s leaning toward asking for a special grand jury with subpoena power to aid the investigation.”
Her potential case focuses on Trump’s attempt to pressure Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” 11,780 votes — just enough to change the outcome of the election in the state. The investigation also examines, the AP reports, “a November 2020 phone call between U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and Raffensperger, the abrupt resignation of the U.S. attorney in Atlanta on Jan. 4, 2021, and comments made during December 2020 Georgia legislative committee hearings on the election.” And it includes Trump’s statements at a campaign rally calling on Gov. Brian Kemp (R) to change the outcome and his various calls to Georgia officials in December.
More at the link at the top of this topic....
Stay tuned.....anyone want to bet that Georgia will be successful in indicting trump?
SF Police Used Camera Network to Illegally ‘Spy on Protesters,’ New Lawsuit Alleges
“From May 31 through June 7, 2020, The San Francisco Police Department (“SFPD”) acquired, borrowed, and used a private network of more than 400 surveillance cameras to spy on protesters in real time,” the suit alleges in papers filed in San Francisco Superior Court.
Doing so violated a recently enacted city ordinance that requires the Board of Supervisors to approve any new surveillance systems for police use, according to attorneys with the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Northern California chapter of the ACLU, who are representing the four activist plaintiffs.“
“On its website, USBID describes itself as “a defined area wherein property owners are self-assessed to fund services that improve the overall quality of life for residents and visitors.”
The business district also touts an elaborate surveillance system to protect members from crime. Nearly 400 cameras cover the 27-block area, bordered by Bush Street to the north, Kearny Street to the east, Market Street to the south and Taylor Street to the west.
“Union Square partnered with law enforcement and became the first area in San Francisco to deploy surveillance cameras (now over 350)“
Background
Redistricting happens every 10 years after the release of the Census data. Here's an article from the Washington Post called "Redistricting, Explained" (from 2011) that gives a good overview of the redistricting process. Note: the Washington Post is behind a metered paywall (they you a few free articles a month, so take that into consideration before clicking).
Here's a non-paywalled article from the Associated Press about how the redistricting process has gone this year. The Virginia Supreme Court approved the maps unanimously.
The Virginia Public Access Project has released a set of tools and visualizations to make it easier to learn about the new districts you are now living in, and what impact that will have on who represents you.
The final maps plus analysis for:
Bonus links:
-
Here's the page that has contains links to the three draft plans that were proposed: https://www.vpap.org/redistricting/plans/
-
Here's a Twitter thread from VPAP explaining more about how to use the tools on the site. Thread [minus images and links] copied below:
>VPAP has posted exclusive analysis of statewide maps of proposed state House and Senate districts, which consultants will present to #Redistricting Commission on Monday. [Link] Follow this thread for detailed explanation of the tools found on our site. -->
>For each plan, there is a statewide map with blue/red shading for the partisan lean of the proposed districts. Purple are more competitive, based on 2016 presidential results. [Link] You can click into a district -->
>The district page shows an interactive map, which are pretty easy to navigate (have not tried on mobile). You can zoom in and explore. [Link] Below the map, you can find charts on population and demographics -->
>Charts include a breakdown of population of the district by locality
>Finally, there
... keep reading on reddit ➡