Guard Dog

I never knew that!

You know I have never read a single Stephen King book? I've read thousands of books but not one by King. I've seen the movies but that is not the same. Maybe I should give the man a look. Heck he chuns them out faster than most folks can read them. Any suggestions? What was his best work? And don't say Dark Tower, I read the synopsis and it does not sound like something I'd like.

Congrats Entrix! You should hire an editor to give it a read through before you start making revisions. Good luck shopping it around when you're ready. Hopefully you can sell it. It would be cool if someone on this board could finally get published.

It is the government's fault because education falls under their responsibilities and they have shirked their duty off to the democratic process instead of just putting their foot down revamp the whole system and take education back from the states governments. We test the lowest in Science because kids can simply walk away from the test, skip it or just answer randomly with no consequences. As they do with everything else school related, the system is not designed to teach kids its there to keep the fragile illusions of their parents alive. You can't teach kids without having them be accountable for their actions and that's why when they finally reach college and have to learn all the things that they were supposed to know and finally be responsible for themselves most drop out. It wouldn't be any harm except that 1-They waste federal aid money and 2-The US its becoming a more stupid country. So you oppose Knowledge Based Learning then? It sounds that way. If so I completely agree with you. But as for taking control away from State Governments, heck Orogun, the Federal Government took education away from the states over 30 years ago. They GAVE us this crappy system we have now. US education is now the American liberals wet dream let us bask in it's glory.

For one I was absolutely against NCLB. But no it was in concept at least a Skills Based system since it requires testing for advancement. It's a big subject for such a short post but there are many things wrong about it and only a few right about it.

Actually I think the US Federal Government has no business what so ever involving itself in education at all. Prior to the Carter administration that was handled by the individual states. Generally High School cirriculum was determined by what state universities expected incoming freshmen to know. Each state raised the it's education budget from it's own tax base and operated their school systems free of federal interference. Over the last 20 years the federal government has pumped billions of STATE dollars into STATE education and it gets worse and worse every year. Politicians will tell you we are not spending enough but the truth is the US spends $7K per school age child per year, nearly half again as much as the next highest country (the UK) and every year we fall more and more behind everyone else. In the 1950's and 60's the US was 1 & 2 in the world respectively in quality of education. The Government took over in the 70's and we've been riding a greased pole to the basement ever since. If I had a kid here is no way in hell I'd let them attend a public school. I'd pay for private no matter what the cost. To save the US education system we need to get Uncle Sam out of it and let the individual states get back to managing their own states. It will never happen. Once Washington seizes control over something they never, ever let it go no matter how big a mess they make of it. An interesting study on this subject: http://mat.usc.edu/u-s-education-versus-the-world-infographic/

I sold that property I bought in Covington today. I was never going to do anything with it anyway. I just don't have time. I had it for a year and only visited it twice. I didn't make much off of it but at least I walked away with something.

I'd like a 1972 Ferrari Daytona Spyder. That is my dream car! If anyone would like a nearly fully restored Plymouth Fury I can make your dream come true.

Hey Krezzie you've been reading Daily Kos I see. And here I thought you had started thinking for yourself. Imagine my suprise. As far as calling you some kind of marxist why would I ever do that? It's not like you have ever posted about how terrible capitalist economics are, and how people who believe in economic freedom are evil, people who believe in God are non-human, or commented on the virtues of direct government control of corporations, right? Anyway, I see you have a problem with the TRP taking issue with childrens parents being left out of the educational process of their own kids. Ok tell me what you think of this idea: School Choice. Allow parents to opt out of the public education system and send their kids to a private school of their choosing. A subsidy can be paid to the private school from the state for the cost savings of that child not being in a public school. That will help a great deal with the tuition costs and that way the parents can ensure each child recieves the education they want be it that touchy-feely Outcome Based Learning where the poor little dears won't have to take tests to prove they learned anything or the more regimented Skills Based Learning where learning is tested and *gasp* someone might fail if the do not study. Of course if the parents are the problem there is another way to go; manadotory state boarding school. Take the parents out of the picture all together. I know a few countries have gone this route. I wonder which of those you favor?

Actually I've been throwing out or donating books as I replace them in digital format. But I have a real storage problem. My house is sort of small, only 1000 sqare feet (roughly 90 some odd meters) and I have a full bookshelf in every room. Several in some rooms.

What did the co-worker do?

I don't want to turn this into a political thread so this will be my last comment on it. But you're wrong Gorgon, it does not give healthcare to everybody, or anybody. It requires everyone to BUY it. But more than that is grants the Federal Government the ability to compel a citizen under penalty of legal punishment to enter into a private contract with a third party, possibly of the governments choosing. This is huge. It's heavy handed. It is absolutely un-American because it is a crime to do nothing now. Over the past few years the government has taken the right to sieze you home and give it to someone else who will pay more taxes for it, use warrentless wiretaps to read your e-mail and listen to your phone calls, cameras are on every street corner now, drones are flying over US cities watching us. And now they can force me to buy something they deem I should have from a company of their choosing. I don't even recognize the country I live in any more. I suddenly feel the need to buy more ammunition, gold, and canned food.

Me too. I just heard the SCOTUS has upheld Obamacare. Disgusting.... just flat out sickening. I can't eve put into words how disgusted I am with this outcome.

It's amazing how bad you will be treated when everyone knows you can't complain. Contract work stinks. The money can be pretty good though.

This thread is pretty cool Hurlie. I feel like I've been on vacation reading it.

It would be cool to be like the guy in the Dos Equis commercials: http://dosequis.com/

I'm having a crisis this morning. I got out of the shower and I looking at the mirror getting ready to shave when I noticed some of my whiskers are f*****g gray! How the heck did this happen?

Now there is a truth if ever I heard one.

Now reading Unsaid by Neil Abramson. This book lhas lived up to the hype so far. For a change. Also reading The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun by JRR Tolkien. This is the last of his published work I have not read. I just started it last night.

Taxation per se is not theft. Everyone who benefits from the common good of society should help pay for that society, Of course that certainly does not happen in most countries. The idea of even the poor having no tax obligation to fund the benefits they enjoy does not sit well with me. I think a national retail sales tax that exempts food and medicine and other essentials is worth considering in lieu of income taxes because it taxes consumption and impacts everyone. Everyone pays proportionaly to their participation in society. The more you spend the more you pay. However, there is the argument that that will give birth to an under the table barter economy and I'll admit it might. Despite the marxist rantings of one of the less pleasant posters of this board I do think a flat tax is also a fair solution. As Enoch posted really no one has heartburn with paying for roads, police, public services, national defense, etc. It really becomes irksome when our hard earned money is wasted and given to those who do not deserve it. Not much you can do about it but vote the SOB's out when they do misuse it. I can't wait for November.

You know what's ironic, I know at least three women in their mid to early twenties who complain about how hard it is to meet a good guy. None of them is objectionable looking (I would'nt call them reaving beauties either) and I know at least one likes NWN & NWN2 ( I gave her my copy of them and she is into them now). And I know guys like Calax who have nothing wrong with them and they are all out there looking for each other yet never seeming to find each other. Strange how that works isn't it? Now as far as getting a roll in the hay goes that is something I've never had any real trouble with because I have high alchohol tolerance and low standards.

Now reading The Dog Cancer Survival Guide bu Dr. Damien Dressler. My pups are all healthy (although they are all elderly now). I'm just interested in the cancer prevention/mitigation diet tips and nutricuticals guide.

I went through a pretty bad stage in life a while back. My first career flopped, my business failed, my wife left me, I lost my house, and I was dead broke and nearly ruined in debt. All this within a span of 9 months or so. I got through it by getting massively drunk a lot. Then I discovered Baldurs Gate and pretty soon I felt more friends with the characters in that game than with folks in real life. Then one day I just woke up and it was over. I was fine and life moved on. You are in a dark tunnel right now but don't ever doubt one day you won't be. It'd be a shame to not be here when that day comes. As for relationships, they come and they go. It sounds like a cliche and it will no doubt piss you off to hear it but it's true. It sounds trite to say "you'll meet someone" but you will.

Maybe it will never happen. I hope not. I think in the long run it would be for the best but in the short term it would be terrible. But I've made my own preparations if it ever does.

I'll drink to that! I happen to have a bottle of fine nine year old small batch sitting on the kitchen counter right now.