Concerned Parents of Brandywine Heights

President Bush Calms The Hurricane

President Bush's environmental policeis were credited from turning what could have been a disaster for the Florida Keys into just a breezy days. On the day after the Katrina 1 year anniversary the new policies have stopped this storm in its tracks and kept other storms away from our shores this hurricane season. Ernesto Hits U.S. Without Big Punch . Since he got the blame for all the storms last year might as well give the guy the credit for this season.

In related stories former Vice President Al Gore after huckstering for his recent movie

"We Are All Gone To Die" has returned to the elementary school lecture circuit and his search for the elusive ManBearPig.

Miss Emily Goes To The Movies

Review by Emily Trosprel
9th Grade BHHS Senior Entertainment Editor

Snakes On A Plane

If you don’t giggle at the thought of an over-the-top B movie about hundreds of snakes attacking everyone in their path on a plane 35,000 feet in the air, then you’re going to have a tough time enjoying “Snakes on a Plane” because that’s exactly what it is. The plot (which is really only a means to get the snakes on the plane—it’s then that the story really starts) begins in Hawaii with Sean Jones (Nathan Phillips) witnessing a brutal murder by gangster Eddie Kim (Byron Lawson). To testify against Kim, he must travel on a red-eye flight bound for Los Angeles (filled with your stereotypical disaster-flick passengers out of whom it’s obvious who will die) and be escorted by tough-as-nails FBI agent Neville Flynn (Samuel L. Jackson). Of course, Kim won’t let him off the hook that easily, and tucked in the cargo hold are several anonymous huge boxes. Who can guess what they hold? Of course, before the flight takes off some pheromones are spread around to get the scaly critters into a proper frenzy. That’s right; it’s not just hundreds of snakes. It’s hundreds of crazy snakes. On a plane.
What can you say about a movie with a title like “Snakes on a Plane”? There’s not too much you can say except that you get what you pay for. That wouldn’t include any actual innovative filmmaking. Looking for award-winning, dramatic writing? None to be found. Looking for revolutionary special effects? Search elsewhere. How about great acting? Actually, on that count Samuel L. Jackson does deliver. From killing snakes with tasers and blow torches to shouting “Do as I say and you'll live!” Jackson epitomizes cool. All other actors are dominated by him: a lead who’s all serious in a movie that doesn’t take itself seriously. The entire premise is ridiculous; nobody’s denying that. In fact, the ridiculousness is the entire point. It’s good to see a movie come around that has no intention of being something it’s not but rather strives to become one thing: fun!

Two and a half stars out of four for Snakes On A Plane.

Admin Doesn't Flip Flop On Dress Code

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) - Classrooms were a little less crowded at Morton High School on the first day of classes: 128 students were sent home for wearing the wrong clothes.
Fed up with inappropriate outfits, the principal suspended the students for one day Wednesday, minutes after doors opened at the school. Those suspended represent more than 10 percent of the 1,200 total students.
The offending attire - including baggy pants, low-cut shirts, tank tops and graphic T-shirts - are banned from classrooms. Students were also cited for cell phone use.
"This was the worst year I've seen in a long time," said Principal Theresa Mayerik. "It's gotten out of control, and we needed to send a message that we're not messing around."
The Hammond school usually has 20 dress code violations a day.
Mayerik said the infraction would be removed from students' records in 12 weeks if they had no other in-school violations.
School board members said they support Mayerik and the mass suspensions. "I'd be supportive if half the school was sent home, because 99 percent will get the message our schools are for education," board president Rebecca Ward said.

South Beach Diet Meets Lunchroom Ladies

Excellent article in the NY Times magazine on the trials and tribulations of providing good meals that kids will actually eat. Have to provide meals that meet government regulations while using food that other goverment departments want to get rid of. Top down planning and control at its best.

The reason that children are currently too fat is, in part, because they used to
be too thin. During World War II, potential enlistees were regularly turned away
because they were undernourished, and after the war the director of the
Selective Service System declared malnutrition to be a national emergency. One
result was the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry S. Truman in
1946, guaranteeing a hot lunch for every schoolchild who could not afford one.

Can't win the war on poverty or drugs but seems we managed to win the one on kids being undernourished.

Tweaks aside, the twofold effects of the School Lunch Act are much the same now
as 60 years ago. First, the act put the government in the school-food-supply
business, buying surplus product from farmers and sending it along to the
schools. Twenty percent of the foods served in school cafeterias today are
Agriculture Department commodities, which include everything the federal
government buys a lot of and needs to pass along, from flour and sugar to fruits
and vegetables.

Ok which farm program subsidises farmers growing bumper crops of Tater Tots year after year?

Tax Committee

Latest word from the school is that there are only 4 applicants to be on the tax study commission. According to the law it must be made up or 5, 7 or 9 members. There is also a problem with the current volunteers because they are all from what the government considers the same age/income/occupational group and the law calls for a diversed group. So if you are NOT an engineer in the 56-65 age group please apply. The forms can be obtained from the school's wed site, business office (located in the middle school) or at the meeting monday night. With the make up of the current volunteers we should have more charts and graphs in our report then any other district.

Are you a Slacker Mom?

Take The Test

Music In Schools

One of the non-mandated offerings by schools is education in music. May appear to be just a waste of money to some people but it is fundemental for a well rounded education. Besides giving the students lifetime skills music is applied mathamatics and a universal language. A summary of the benefits is Why We Teach Music .

You Are Because Of WHEN

Once saw a management film on how if management wanted to motivate employees they first needed to understand the state of the world when the employees reached certain critical ages, preschool, adolescents and late teens. Seems our perceptions of the world is formed during those ages. The film explained how if you wanted to motivate someone that grew up in the depression you offered money, a baby boomer who always had money offer them time off. If you offered a depression era worker time off they went into shock.

Well if teachers and employers want to understand the work force and incoming college freshmen they should take a gander at this Google Was Always a Verb and the original article The Class of 2010 Mindset List

They have never heard anyone actually "ring it up" on a cash register.
A coffee has always taken longer to make than a milkshake.
Mr. Rogers, not Walter Cronkite, has always been the most trusted man in America.
They grew up with and have outgrown faxing as a means of communication.
Television stations have never concluded the broadcast day with the national anthem.
Being techno-savvy has always been inversely proportional to age.

Not A Flying Car

But awful cool looking ride in this video

New School Web Site

The school's web site has received a face lift in time for the new school year. Looks a lot better and more functional. Will miss the intellectual challenge of the old site when trying to find information.

Four-Fifths of the Children Left Behind

At least the liberal-arts journalism major didn't make the headline 5/4 of graduates, so all is not lost. Buried beneath the headline is that this is the biggest increase since 1991. Well colleges were never designed for 100% of the high school graduates. This expectation has turned many college programs into 13th grade.

Bloomberg.com: U.S.: "Aug. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Almost four-fifths of U.S. high school graduates failed to pass this year's standard examinations designed to show their readiness for college, test designer ACT Inc. reported.
Scores on the four-part ACT test, taken this year by more than 1.2 million U.S. students, ranged from only 27 percent passing in biology to 69 percent in English, the company reported. A total of 21 percent met the benchmark in all four subject areas, including algebra and social science, it said.
The nationwide average total score on the ACT test rose the fastest in 20 years, yet the overall performance remains unacceptable, U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings said. "

Our New Sponsor

And you thought Bayer only made aspirins. From a collection of vintage Ads Some are funny some are strange and some especially the French ones are deeply disturbing. Does make one wonder what future generations will be saying about some of the products we see advertised and use today.

You can read history books but looking at ads from a particular period you can have a better understanding of the people living in that era.

New Local Entertainment Spot

It has been suggested on several occassions if Rockland wants to raise money they should put up a web camera at the Dryville corner of Fredricksville and Lyons Roads. People coming from Fredricksville top a hill to the sight of people in various stages of crossing from the Dryville Hotel to the parking lot. If you are coming up from Lyons every time you make the blind left turn onto Fredricksville Rd. it is an adventure, with people crossing, cars coming down the hill skidding, cars backing out or into the parking lot or two cars doing the Rockland infamous stop in the middle of the road and chat. Now according to the Patriot PennDOT will be adding a new wrinkle by installing a four way stop at the intersection. This comes after years of saying they never would according to a Rockland supervisor.

The new signs will be installed in four to eight weeks. Best guess they will be installed at the time we have the first icy roads of the season. That will greatly increase the entertainment value of watching local residents slide through the revised intersection.

Double Edged Sword

First they came for the trailer parks
and I did not speak out
because my house doesn't have wheels

They they came for the townhomes
and I did not speak out
because I live in the boonies

But now they are coming for the Tiki Bar in Earlville
and they are really burning my bisquits.

Caught grief the other day for simply pointing out that while you may be in favor of some zoning restrictions and this paticular use would be harmful to neighboring properties, it is still government confiscating private property. Once that camel gets its nose under the tent no one is safe. At least the owner of the Tiki Bar is handling the affair in the rational mature manner one would expect. From their web site:

We did not flood! Stop the rumor! If you hear that we are closed please pick up a rock and throw it really hard at the person making the statement, then pick up the rock and do it again, over and over until they say that we are open and always have been and that you, the thrower, are a beautiful human being and that Jim at the Bar is kinda cute.

Another update - August 15th: The township met last night and firmly decided to go after us using Eminent Domain. We are hiring the lawyers and doing all the work necessary to be here for a long time. I plan to get old together with all of you right here on the Ragin' Manatawny. Party well!

Pool Problems

The editorial staff hopes no one was unduly inconvenienced or confused about recent notices about activities at the pool due to the error mentioned below. Also an apology to the injured party whose business was greatly harmed by the manner in which Topton advertised a dance at their pool.

It would be greatly appreciated if no more notices about actives, that have that phrase , be posted. They will just have to be edited. Don't really like hearing from lawyers this early in the morning. Have a great phrase in mind right now that could be used dealing with the matrimonial status of their parents at the time of their birth but should check first to see if it has been registered.

D.H. Productions of the Lehigh Valley, PA, owner of the registeredtrademark “Dip -N- Dance ®” (Entity No. 2906487) has owned and used its“Dip -N- Dance ®” trademark for fifteen years in connection withentertainment and swimming activities for local government departments ofrecreation and private pools, indoor and outdoor, throughout the year. The“Dip -N- Dance ®” trademark, as you must appreciate, is of great value andimportance to D.H. Productions.

Recently, we have been advised that you are using the name or itslikeness in connection with your organization. We have a “Dip -N- Dance ®”scheduled on dates that you also hold dances according to your web site athttp://brandywineparents.com/ and we are gravely concerned of the confusionthis will cause due to our trademark. This letter is being sent to protest your unauthorized use of thetrademark confusingly similar to “Dip -N- Dance ®” in connection with yourorganization. Your use of “Dip -N- Dance ®” or it’s likeness unfairlycapitalizes on the goodwill and reputation embodied in the “Dip -N- Dance ®”trademark. The public may mistakenly believe that your use of “Dip -N-Dance” and / or it’s likeness is somehow authorized or sponsored by or issomehow affiliated with D.H. Productions’ “Dip -N- Dance ®” trademark.

This type of deceptive trade practice constitutes trademarkinfringement under Section 32(1) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1114(1), afalse designation of the original and false description under Section 43(a)of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a), and violates the state trademark anddilutions statutes and common law principles of unfair competition andmisappropriation. This is a friendly notice to ensure that you cease and desist of allunauthorized use of the mark or any mark confusingly similar to “Dip -N-Dance ®” on any products, advertisements, or in connection with anyservices. We request that you certify that: (i) you or any entity you areaffiliated with or an agent of, immediately cease all use of the mark“Dip -N- Dance ®” or any mark confusingly similar to “Dip -N- Dance ®”; (ii)you or any entity you are affiliated with or an agent of, agree to rescindand refrain from any further advertising bearing the mark “Dip -N- Dance ®”or any mark confusingly similar to “Dip -N- Dance ®”: or (iii) retain ourservices for trademark compliance.

No Trailer Park In District

The zoning commission on a 3-0 vote turned down the appeal. If you could not attend you missed a good show. The lawyer for the property owners in question made it seem that the founding fathers of this country fought the revolution so everyone could live in a manufactor home. Pulled everything out except "if this appeal is denied the Terrorist will have won." Now If some of us had Latin in 8th grade maybe we could have understood what was going on tonight because those latin phrases were a flying. The lawyer for the adjacent property owners went with the Abe Lincolin aw shucks I am a good ole boy route. He was very effective but he did have home court advantage in front of a large partisan audience.

The property owners will have 30 days to appeal the ruling to Commonwealth Court.

District Zoning Meeting Tonight

A zoning meeting concerning a proposed trailer park in District Township will be held tonight at 7:30 in the middle school auditorium. Why did the townships and county go to all the effort and expense to create a regional development plan if it always seems to be ignored? Shouldn't say that not knowing how the District zoning board will act . There is a website with further information: www.stevedot.com/DTNA/Index.html and ways you can help.

The editorial staff has mixed feelings about this. From a libertarian prospective a person should be able to do with their property what they will. Central planning and strict zoning encroaches on personal liberty and generally causes more problems then they solve. People also need a place to live and not everyone can afford a 3 bedroom house on an acre+ of land. Also not a lot of sympathy for someone that buys a small lot next to a farm and then expects the farmer to keep farming forever to provide them with a rural flavor. However without public services like water and sewage unrestrained growth takes away and can harm neighboring properties. The 85 proposed units won't have much effect on the school district. Class size have been running smaller and the district should be able to accommodate the growth without any problems. Anyway should be an interesting meeting.

Some great advice from Paul Graham part of a graduation speech that was never made because he got uninvited. Looking over it would be better as a speech to entering students of any age. The ending is especially good.

The important thing is to get out there and do stuff.

Instead of waiting to be taught, go out and learn. Your life doesn't have to be shaped by admissions officers. It could be shaped by your own curiosity. It is for all ambitious adults. And you don't have to wait to start. In fact, you don't have to wait to be an adult. There's no switch inside you that magically flips when you turn a certain age or graduate from some institution.

You start being an adult when you decide to take responsibility for your life. You can do that at any age. This may sound like bullshit. I'm just a minor, you may think, I have no money, I have to live at home, I have to do what adults tell me all day long. Well, most adults labor under restrictions just as cumbersome, and they manage to get things done. If you think it's restrictive being a kid, imagine having kids.

The only real difference between adults and high school kids is that adults realize they need to get things done, and high school kids don't. That realization hits most people around 23. But I'm letting you in on the secret early. So get to work. Maybe you can be the first generation whose greatest regret from high school isn't how much time you wasted.

A tip of the hat to Brian's Education Blug (A libertarian-inclined education blog by Brian Micklethwait)

This was supposed to be posted last week

If you can afford one of this expensive hippie computers, here is a free download for you in time for school. Don't have a clue if it is any good but you have to love the name

iProcrastinate was written by myself entirely in Cocoa using a Core Data framework, and results in a very bug-free, very fast application. Helps lazy students keep track of their homework, big projects, etc. Just in time for the coming school year, and nothing beats free! Give it a try, and see how you like it! If you have any comments, suggestions, etc. please don't hesitate to e-mail me at "craigotis (at) gmail (dot) com". Please note that this product is Universal, and requires Mac OS 10.4 or greater.

A universal web application with some interesting features is MyNotIt

No Duct Tape Required. !!

This may solve everyone's problem flip flops without the flips or the flops. Now people without toes can also be in violation of school policy. Shoes sticks to the bottom of the feet eliminating the tripping on stairs problems. It does violate the no strap policy but does honor the reason behind it. Just Go Topless.

Topless sandals simulate walking barefoot while protecting your feet. Topless sandals stick to the bottom of your feet, but leave no residue on your feet when you take them off. The "stick" is guaranteed for a year, which is the typical life span of a flip flop. Topless sandals are basically topless flip flops, but so much cooler. You'll be amazed at how many heads you turn while
wearing your topless sandals. People will literally think you are barefoot and so will your feet. Topless-Sandal.com is the official topless sandals store and topless sandals accessories store for items such as toe rings, foot jewelry, and anklet bracelets. Tell your family and friends about the hottest item on the Internet - the topless sandal. Our topless sandals make great stocking stuffers
at low prices. Topless sandals are just plain fun and feel great on your feet.

Can High School Students Handle Philosophy?

If you start from any observation and ask "why" enough times, eventually
you will get to philosophy. - The Evangelical libertarian philosopher

By that definition every 3 year old is a philosopher and parents soon have a real understanding why they killed Socrates. He drove everyone crazy with the questions. At least with a 3-4 year old you can finally snap and say "Because I say so".

Just seems we teach a lot of "How" courses like science and math and courses on one trade or another but none that go into the question that is more imporant WHY?

Looks Like A Great Weekend

Unless you were planning to fly from or to England, the weekend is shaping up to be great at least weather wise.

If you are looking for something to do Musikfest over in Bethlehem is still in progress. If you are a mom (or a very strange dad not that there is anything wrong with that) of a certain age you can check out your old heart thro

b David Cassidy tonight. Come on you know who you are. The years don't look like they have been to kind to him plus still having to sing the Partridge Family Greatest Hits.

Looks like Sunday nights group Heart is still holding in there rather well. Amazing what modern science and lots of money can do for a person's appearance. Too bad the rumor that their hit "Magic Man" was inspired by one of the Wilson sister chance encounter with a young future Benevolent Dictator won't ever go away.

Watching Washington

The bills before Congress have long-term effects on our nation's budget — and potentially yours. WashingtonWatch.com tracks the bills in Congress, along with estimates about their costs or savings.

H.R. 4411 The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006
Costs $0.02 per family

H.R. 5576 The Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2007
Costs $670.62 per family

Watch Polling Places Start Being Moved

" One study showed voters in Arizona in 2000 were more likely to support a measure to increase the state sales tax, with the proceeds going to public education, if they voted in a school. Following up, the authors showed subjects images of a church, a school, or a generic building and asked them to “vote” on certain measures. Not only were the respondents more likely to support education measures if they had been shown pictures of schools, but they were also more likely to vote against stem-cell research if they had been shown pictures of churches. American polling places have usually been assigned by state officials on the basis of convenience; this research suggests they could become political battlegrounds in a whole new manner."

Tax Committee

If you want become involved with a state mandated local tax study commission contact the school district at 610.682.5100. It is required to begin its work by September 14th and reflect the diversity (really beginning to hate that word) of the community by age, occupation and socio-economic status. The committed will be made up of 5, 7 or 9 members depending on the volunteers.

This is mandated by the recent law to take more money from those who don't vote and less from those who do. This has nothing to do with property tax relief just election year smoke and mirrors but still the district needs volunteers. If more 18-20 somethings voted instead there would be free college tuition and grants for starter homes.

Punctuation Does Matter

For those on the topic board that complain when someone corrects your spellin it do two matter. One extra comma cost a Canada company 2.13 MILLION Dollars (didn't say if it was real dollars or those dollars with the ugly woman on them).

“shall continue in force for a period of five years from the date it is made, and thereafter for successive five year terms, unless and until terminated by one year prior notice in writing by either party.”

Company A thought they had a 5 year contract at a guaranteed price. The extra comma allowed Company B to escape the contract after only year and raise their rates. MORE Since everyone will deal with legal contracts quit complaining and study your punctuation. Your lawyer might be a product of public education.

Perfect Parallel Parking

You could practice or you could just use good old math:

Start with three initial formulas

P = r - w/2

G ? w + 2r + b

F ? w + 2r - fg

For the perfect park, those formulas must satisfy the following relationship:

Max ((r + w/2)2 + f2, (r + w/2)2 + b2) ? min (4r2, (r + w/2 + k)2)

Definitions:

Position (P): Where to set up for the parallel park
Gap (G): Determines if parking gap is large enough
Front of car (F): Determines where front of car should go
r: turning radius of your car
w: width of your car
b: distance from back of car to point midway between axles
fg: gap you want left at the end
k: distance from curb where you end up

Hope

After a brutally hot week and with the start of school fast approaching hope springs enternal

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

President Bush Calms The Hurricane

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Miss Emily Goes To The Movies

Admin Doesn't Flip Flop On Dress Code

Saturday, August 26, 2006

South Beach Diet Meets Lunchroom Ladies

Friday, August 25, 2006

Tax Committee

Are you a Slacker Mom?

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Music In Schools

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

You Are Because Of WHEN

Monday, August 21, 2006

Not A Flying Car

New School Web Site

Friday, August 18, 2006

Four-Fifths of the Children Left Behind

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Our New Sponsor

New Local Entertainment Spot

Double Edged Sword

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Pool Problems

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

No Trailer Park In District

District Zoning Meeting Tonight

Monday, August 14, 2006

Sunday, August 13, 2006

This was supposed to be posted last week

Saturday, August 12, 2006

No Duct Tape Required. !!

Can High School Students Handle Philosophy?

Friday, August 11, 2006

Looks Like A Great Weekend

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Watching Washington

Watch Polling Places Start Being Moved

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Tax Committee

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Punctuation Does Matter

Monday, August 07, 2006

Perfect Parallel Parking

Friday, August 04, 2006

Hope