text:
By way of a correspondent, check out this upcoming June 4th Knox County Schools agenda item re. the Emerald Charter school application.
Update: the meeting for citizens input will be Monday, June 2, 2014, 5 PM, at the Andrew Johnson Bldg, 1st Boardroom, 912 S. Gay Street, which is across from the courthouse in downtown Knoxville.
Note the Superintendent's Memorandum:
To: Chair and Members
Knox County Board of Education
From: Dr. James P. McIntyre, Jr.
Date: May 29, 2014
Subject: Emerald Academy Charter School Application
On April 1st, the Knox County Board of Education received a charter school application for the Emerald Academy Charter Schools.
The Executive Director of Innovation Dr. Jon Rysewyk led our charter evaluation committee through a review of this proposal based on the Tennessee Charter School Application Evaluation Ratings and Sample Scoring Criteria. The committee's detailed findings and recommendation are attached. Based upon the strength of the application, the committee has recommended that this application for a charter be approved. I concur with and endorse the recommendation of the evaluation committee.
Based upon the evaluation committee's careful analysis and recommendation, I would respectfully request that the Board of Education vote to approve this charter application.
Surprise, surprise.
A symptom of the Broad
A symptom of the Broad Academy virus. I wonder which neighborhood school will go because of it.......either for building use or because students will be sucked away.
It's the Wednesday, June 4
It's the Wednesday, June 4 meeting. June 6 is a Friday.
Did any of y'all expect this
Did any of y'all expect this not to be approved?
Whether or not it is expected
(in reply to Rachel)
Whether or not it is expected to approve, it is good for citizens to speak up in the community to voice their opinion. Otherwise, it will be quoted the entire community backed the first charter school in Knox County making way for more.
Sometimes we get so downtrodden we just give up. Not a good idea.
agree. the meeting should be
(in reply to bizgrrl)
agree. the meeting should be packed with concerned citizens. the irony is that there is black community support for this project. reminds me of haslam's coopting black democratic leadership in his run for mayor, and councilman (and vice mayor) mark brown's support for selling the candy factory. "my community doesn't use it." this is the way it's done ..
I've been to an annual
I've been to an annual breakfast Emerald sponsors as a fundraiser. Its a who's who of the powerful and connected in Knoxville. Not suprised this would fly.
But, but, but
it's just this one group in this one location of town? Right?
Not wasting any time. McIntyre's school board "victory" must have been a mandate.
The better inquiry is why this charter application since
(in reply to Average Guy)
all of the other charter school applications had been rejected by the Knox County Board of Education?
We all know the rational is this one is championed by a number of Knoxville muckety mucks and friends or vendors of the Haslam family, but is that in and of itself an automatic green light for an inner city charter school or whatever else may come down the pike for approval.
The other lingering concern is when you have a program like this which is approved simply because of the people involved, not necessarily the program itself, will the program pull kids and families which are known to the people involved with the charter school application, pulling just the kids which have an intact nuclear family, or what will be the effect, if any, on the public schools for which these families are no longer affiliated with.
When you see approval of projects like this for no other reason than the people involved, it is cause for alarm and for concern. As challenged as the inner city elementary schools are in Knox County, not sure how this charter school will make those schools any better, from my perspective, it could make them weaker.
It's not about the kids.
(in reply to Elwood Aspermonte)
They may not even be in the top five considerations.
This is about Jones Lang Lasalle and whoever their educational equivalent will be. Were the workers controlling government buildings good enough before JLL? They were for the entire history of Tennessee.
They just weren't profitable.
And of course Emerald looks benign. That's why they have the support they do.
You always lead with a left jab before you throw the right hook. Unfortunately, you can count on both hands the number of Knox residents who see the hook coming. But it will be clear enough soon enough.
We all know the rational is
(in reply to Elwood Aspermonte)
We all know the rational is this one is championed by a number of Knoxville muckety mucks and friends or vendors of the Haslam family
Is that what we know? Or is it just vaguely possible that this application is better than the others? Have you looked at the application? I haven't, so I don't have a clear idea how it measures up.
I'm no fan of charter schools, but it was also pretty clear to me that previous applications were weak. Maybe this one isn't.
Could you somebody who is actually familiar with this application versus previous ones please weigh in?
(link...) (link...) (link...)
(in reply to Rachel)
Deciding what's best
(in reply to Rachel)
I'd rather hear a discussion by the school board and funding bodies on whether or not doling out public dollars to a select number of private enterprises is the best course for Knox County education.
Locally, when was it decided that charters in Knox County were a foregone conclusion?
Deciding on Emerald before deciding if charters are the right thing to do couldn't be a better example of putting the cart before the horse.
It wasn't decided locally
(in reply to Average Guy)
The way state law and policy is worded is designed to favor districts approving charters.
That's why I specifically said locally
(in reply to cwg)
The state decides a lot of things, but I'm not sure it's a model for anything.
Most (if not all) discussion of this will take place at the work session Monday, not at the meeting Wednesday.
Some interesting discussion
Some interesting discussion on this (that got a little derailed by journalism 101) from a couple of years ago here:
Here is the couple things I would suggest to critics of the Emerald Charter plan.
First...stay skeptical. A harsh and doubting eye on something, especially when it is the first, is a healthy thing.
Secondly...get to know Steve Diggs. I believe he is the real deal and has no motive other than to help kids. He has a lot of wealthy people on his board because that's where the money is and he has needed money to support his work.
He's had those folks for years. Does he pay himself a big salary? No, he doesn't. Does he live in a big house in a swanky neighborhood? No, he's on Emiorland, right in the area he serves.
I don't work for Emerald. Never have. I've known Steve for years and have never seen him be anything but a straight up guy out to help people.
So go ahead and be skeptical. Just also be ready to admit it if he just uses the money, hard work and some devoted people to make the charter help kids get a better education.
Y'all want to think he got approval from connections and money and not from hard work and proving himself. If I'm wrong about this, I'll admit it later. Hope you will do the same.
Don't know if you're missing everyones argument,
(in reply to Mike Cohen)
but you're missing mine.
Is funneling public money to charters a good thing for the Knox County school system now and in the future?
I don't care if the charter is run by Steve Diggs or the Pope.
The cognoscenti
(in reply to metulj)
Honestly, I don't think that is who Steve is after.
A magnet may try and draw the smartest kids with the most potential.
Steve is trying to serve the kids who the system does not seem to be helping enough.
Steve is trying to serve the
(in reply to Mike Cohen)
Steve is trying to serve the kids who the system does not seem to be helping enough.
Good for him. Maybe it would be awesome if the folks at Emerald or someone else sued the local school system and the state Dept. of Ed to fix that? Sounds like a 14th Amendment civil rights class action to me.
I sort of get the "creative disruption and destruction" aspects of the argument as it might pertain to various markets. Not sure it should apply to public schools. Public schools are not a market.
(in reply to R. Neal)
Suing someone to create system change is just now what Steve and Emerald seem to be about.
They are about face to face, getting to know kids and making a difference for kids.
(in reply to R. Neal)
Suing someone to create system change is just now what Steve and Emerald seem to be about.
They are about face to face, getting to know kids and making a difference for kids.
Yes, the application made
(in reply to Mike Cohen)
Yes, the application made clear the "hug" it out philosophy.
But on this we agree. The question is, if that's what works, why not do it now?
Just as an aside, if a principal has 500 hundred students and hugs and speaks to everyone of them everyday for just 10 seconds, that's an hour and a half. I'd be great if they had the time, but they don't.
Suing someone to create
(in reply to Mike Cohen)
Suing someone to create system change is just now what Steve and Emerald seem to be about.
Steve is trying to serve the
(in reply to Mike Cohen)
Steve is trying to serve the kids who the system does not seem to be helping enough.
if that is the agenda, you do so by fully funding our existing public school system and giving our well-qualified teachers raises.
Again, I'm NOT a proponent of
Again, I'm NOT a proponent of charter schools. I just suspect that this proposal is a lot better than others we have seen.
And thanks for the links, SnM - I'll read them when I'm home. Right now it's back to vacating. :)
I wish the state charter
I wish the state charter school authorizer bill had passed. Especially if the school board votes Emerald down (which they probably won't).
If the decision were to come from the "state", it would help folks understand more clearly who's driving the local education train.
I wish the state charter
(in reply to Average Guy)
I wish the state charter school authorizer bill had passed.
Pretty sure it did? Which means McIntyre/Haslam/Huffman have a fallback plan, not that they will need it. The planets are aligned.
(link...) That was the last I
That was the last I saw. Did they sneak it in?
I also believe in the inevitability, but would like to see them have to own it. But I suspect all three will be gone by the time the facts catch up to the "vision".
Could be missing something,
(in reply to R. Neal)
Could be missing something, but my link looks to be dated 5 days after.
Says Gresham pulled it the last day of the session.
AG, your link bore a 2013 date (see bottom). It said the House passed it in 2013, but it died in the Senate--because Gresham pulled it, I mean.
This year, in 2014, the Senate passed it with an amendment and the House concurred. It went to the governor for signature in April of this year.
(Note that a legislative session runs two years, in this case over the spring 2013 and spring 2014 seasons. Therefore, since the House had approved the bill in 2013, it didn't need to entertain it again this season. That prior approval the House gave last season stood.)
Glad I held out I could be missing something.
(in reply to Tamara Shepherd)
Do you if this current board ever debated charters as a concept, not just charter applications?
(in reply to Average Guy)
I don't know, but this board and boards prior--all the way back to the time of the original TN Charter School Act of 2002--have had that opportunity.
It's seemed to me that there hasn't been much said of the concept over the entire 12-year period...
Don't care who's running it
Don't care who's running it or who is on the board, or whose intentions are pure. What the charter school will do is cream off the kids of the few involved parents, leaving the have-nots – you know, the ones whose mothers were 14 when they were born and have no one to feed them breakfast, let alone help with homework – holding down the fort in schools that are already on the watch lists.
This bodes nothing good for public schools. it just doesn't.
(in reply to Bbeanster)
What the charter school will do is cream off the kids of the few involved parents...holding down the fort in schools that are already on the watch lists.
And that really is the root problem with the charter concept.
I noted that KNS reported early on that Emerald was holding a series of community meetings. However, that's exactly the approach to recruitment that will work with involved parents, but won't net the parents of the kids about whom we're most concerned.
I'm sure Emerald is marketing its proposed charter school to its families involved in EYF, too. But again, it isn't the kids active in EYF that worry us. It's the ones who aren't.
I'd like to see more reporting on how they're recruiting students.
Charters increase racial segregation & weaken communities
(in reply to Bbeanster)
Betty, EXACTLY. The charter school issue is larger than one person whose intent is to serve the poor. It's about the charter system and its segregating effects on the school system and the community as a whole. Charter cheerleaders refuse to admit that charters sort, segregate, and expel 'undesirables".
Segregation and exclusion divide communities and put up barriers between people who should be sitting side-by-side in schools. The mythology of charters does not match the reality of their promises but instead, serve the agenda of the plutocracy. Charters are the new Jim Crow.
An unsegregated school system forces the wealthy elite to see the poverty the business community ignores. It forces the privileged to face the WEALTH gap that segregation hides and distracts with euphemisms of 'achievement gaps' and 'test scores gains' These metrics are meaningless to the people living with wage theft, minimum wage, & predatory lenders on every corner.
What are the odds that future graduates of this new charter school will find future, and equal employment amongst the same elite who are proponents today? I'm not holding my breath.
"Today we are watching politicians who are not educated in the field of education use Friedman's (e.g., Milton Friedman) ideas and knowingly or unknowingly re-segregate our public schools. We live in an age where business leaders & politicians call for a "globally competitive workforce," but are literally putting up walls between students who should be sitting side-by-side in public schools breaking down barriers. In the selective charter school industry, only students who fit their mold get accepted. Those who get accepted and don't rule-follow well or test well are pushed out. Students who don't fit into molds are often students who have the very potential to be our next innovative leaders." (I inserted parentheses)
Haves & have nots
(in reply to Bbeanster)
What the charter school will do is cream off the kids of the few involved parents, leaving the have-nots – you know, the ones whose mothers were 14 when they were born and have no one to feed them breakfast, let alone help with homework
Do you have evidence of this?
How would you describe the circumstances of kids that currently participate in EYF programs?
Tons of empirical evidence on charter creaming
(in reply to Up Goose Creek)
Not the PR put out by the National Charter Association but empirical evidence. You can start here if you decide to do a literature review:
False wait lists: (link...)
Segregation: (link...)
Charter spending disparities: (link...)
Charter's lack of diversity: (link...)
What the charter school will
(in reply to Up Goose Creek)
What the charter school will do is cream off the kids of the few involved parents, leaving the have-nots – you know, the ones whose mothers were 14 when they were born and have no one to feed them breakfast, let alone help with homework
Do you have evidence of this?
How would you describe the circumstances of kids that currently participate in EYF programs?
Slept in this morning and see that jcgrim has already dealt with your disingenuous questions.
The issue is not Steve Diggs nor any individual.
The issue is not the 1,350 children EYF serves annually through its various after school programs that ask little of parents and are a whole different thing than a school that requires some level of parental involvement.
I'll ask you a question: Who is pushing the charter school movement?
(in reply to Bbeanster)
Yes I realize ALEC is pushing charter schools, but I doubt ALEC knows who Steve Diggs is. Of course they know who Haslam is.
The question in my mind is: Did Diggs think up the idea of a charter school to help a challenged population and call on his influential friends to help or did ALEC/Haslam push him in that direction to get the charter school foot in the door.
It doesn't matter
(in reply to Up Goose Creek)
By law, Diggs can do whatever he wants in the private sector, and I wish him well in his endeavors.
However, the use of public taxpayer money in pursuit of his goal is not covered under Article 11 Section 12 of the constitution. Any moneys used in this project must come from the private sector by law. Or the constitution must be amended. Charter schools are not free and that disqualifies them from state funding. That's how our law is written.
Who is pushing the charter
(in reply to Bbeanster)
Who is pushing the charter school movement?
anyone who stands to make money off it. ironically, that probably includes the pension funds, like TIAA-CREF ...
they call it a 'retirement
(in reply to metulj)
they call it a 'retirement annuity' which, in effect, is a pension. UT contributes to this fund which, as far as i know, is the only thing resembling a pension that UT offers. for tax purposes, they're the same thing. see 1040 line 16a Pensions and annuities.
i've been retired for about
(in reply to metulj)
i've been retired for about 15 years, so you're probably right. a small portion of mine is a 401K which, of course, goes up and down with the stock market.
sorry, there's also the
(in reply to metulj)
sorry, there's also the tennessee state 401K which UT contributes to. that must be what you have. frankly, i can't remember whether UT contributed to the TIAA-CREF annuity. they may not have ...
the state 401K is basically corporate welfare, a subsidy of the banks and/or stock market, depending on wht you're invested in ..
Update: the meeting for
Update: the meeting for citizens input will be Monday, June 2, 2014, 5 PM, at the Andrew Johnson Bldg, 1st Boardroom, 912 S. Gay Street, which is across from the courthouse in downtown Knoxville.
The memorandum from Dr. James P. McIntyre, Jr., dated May 29, 2014, also states:
"must reserve by Monday before meeting if you want to speak"
There is a phone number in the memo (865-594-1800), right before the above statement. I'm not sure if it means you have to call first to reserve if you want to speak, or if you can reserve right before the meeting.
Here's what parents should be able to "choose"
Here is what parents and students should be able to choose:
Standards that represent diverse populations
An accountability system that doesn't stigmatize students who score poorly on only one measure of success— high-stakes tests
An accountability system that doesn't hide students who fall through the cracks while simultaneously claiming fantastic results
An accountability system that recognizes the unique needs of English Language Learners relative to high-stakes testing
Teachers that have more than five weeks of training. Teach For America: A review of the evidence.
Teachers that have more than 30 hours of "alternative certification" training Alternative certification and Teach For America:
Schools that don't have a 40% attrition rate for their African American students
Schools that have vibrant public arts programs
Schools that have low student-teacher ratios
Schools that don't have to cheat and game the system to make their numbers for NCLB Accountability
Schools that are not racially segregated
Schools that utilize innovative disciplinary approaches to stem the "school to prison pipeline"
Schools that have teachers in every classroom that are teaching in field and have extensive training in classroom management, curriculum development and pedagogy
Charter story time!
More evidence that charters do not live up to their advertising:
Article from WSJ
The WSJ compared many and the ones that improved did the following;
Successful charter schools have many distinctive features: longer school days and longer years, more flexibility and accountability for teachers and principals, higher expectations for students, more discipline and structure, more curricular innovation, more rigorous testing.
All of which can be done in the current construct.
No, no, no!
(in reply to Average Guy)
That article is not based on solid research and is loaded with reformy logic that doesn't have an empirical base. The most basic issue is how do you define "successful"? Charter school student populations are a self-selecting sample, and the tough discipline and counseling out of failing students makes comparisons even more difficult, not to mention peer effects and what not. The WSJ cares about none of these things. It is propagandizing the very thing that progressives should be pushing back against.
What research and international comparative education tells us is that we need:
- well funded schools
- highly trained teachers who are given high degrees of professional autonomy
- solid mentoring programs for new teachers and master teacher programs
- developmentally appropriate curricula
Just to name a few...
One more thing: We do not need longer school days or even calendar years. That entire idea is based on a long standing mis-perception:
Students in China may attend more days of school each year, but the key question is, are they receiving more hours of instruction? To find the answer, we combined data from the World Data on Education-- which provided the number of courses per week schools are expected to offer—with data from OECD on weeks of instruction to determine total instructional hours per year. The data shows that Chinese students in primary grades (grades 1-5) take 34 courses per week at 45 minutes6 apiece. This equates to nearly 900 hours of instruction per year, which is similar to or less than many U.S. states, including Florida, New York, Texas, and Massachusetts. At the middle school level (grades 6-8), Chinese students attend just under 1,000 hours of school per year, a figure similar to that of most U.S. states. Just as with India, the data shows that Chinese students are not required to receive 25 to 30 percent more in-school instruction per year than U.S. students.
Some of the lessons we could take from Asian nations are: long lunch breaks, nap time for all ages, physical education programs, and (in the case of Japan) have students and teachers clean the schools on a daily basis. Also, from Singapore to Shanghai to Tokyo to Seoul, all of the high-performing nations we like to compare ourselves to see their historical focus on testing, the exam culture it has fostered, and the cram schools that make money off the whole thing to be a problem that they are trying to solve. They want more critical thinking and inquiry... all of the things that we're trying to purge in the name of rigorous testing and accountability.
Sorry about the rant... still
(in reply to Average Guy)
Sorry about the rant... still drinking my coffee. ;-)
No apology needed
(in reply to Stick)
I used a bad example in trying to make a larger point.
But even if the WSJ is propagandizing, they still make the point.
They can't come up with something that can't be done in the current system, even if their ideas are bad.
Go. Speak. Be Heard.
On Monday afternoon, the charter school cheerleaders will be there en masse, singing their own praises. I hope that equal if not greater "public school" & public-education-dollars-staying-in-public-schools cheerleaders will be there as well. I still have yet to understand why we "need" charter schools in East TN, as opposed to helping out the existing public school systems we already have. BTW Dolores Gresham, Harry Brooks, & Mark White have been relentless in Nashville, with their pro-charter school legislation. However, I believe that separate and un-equal publicly funded education is wrong--has been, is, and will be ... wrong.
(in reply to Wynnbilly)
I have no idea who will turn out for this hearing, but if you are about this issue...on either side...you should try and go,
I know I say this all the time, but I have never seen any government meeting that wasn't better and taken more seriously by the presence of a crowd.
How much tax dollars per year do they want?
(in reply to Mike Cohen)
Digging thru their "revised" application, yet again, nowhere have I found a dollar amount that ECS wants to take from Knox county's education budget. If ECS wants zero public dollars, then why are they even applying as a "charter school"? Nowhere have I seen how the students would be selected. A lottery? Who pulls the names if it's a lottery? ECS lottery officials? The ECS's needs for public busing and free lunch programs means that someone or somebody in ECS's planning arena was involved on the Blount county Hope Charter School (HCS) debacle, where the lack of those items helped reveal the true nature of HCS's objectives. If ECS does not want nor need public education dollars, then this application is merely an exercise to get the 1st Charter School in Knoxville, so the following financially burdensome charter schools will become more palatable. If ECS needs public education dollars, then how much? Earlier media investigations quoted ~$860k. If ECS wants zero public education dollars, again why apply as a charter school?
Concerns with the ongoing discussion
'!, Sec.. 12. Education to be ch~rlshed;.common: school fund; poll tax; whites 'and negroes; colleges, etc." rights of. n e ge, earning ana virtue, >elng ',essential to' the preser~ationof repu lica;n i;nstitutio'ns, and ~he diffusion of
the opportunities ana. advantages of education throughout the different por-, -tions of the state, being highly cpnducive to th~ pro~otionof this -end, i~ shall be'the duty of the general assembly in an future periods of this gdveinment,
-to cherish literature and science. And the .fund called the cbm~<;m schqol' Jund,and all the lands and proceeds thereof, dividends, stocks, 'and other pro-
p~rty'of every description whate{rer, heretofore by law appropriat~d;by the ~. general assembly of this state for the use '0f common schools, and, all such as ..,...,
'shall hereafter be appropriated, shall rerp.ain, a perpetual. fu,nd, th,e princinal 10f which shall 'never be diminished by legislative appropriations; and the in- terest thereof shall be inviolably appropriated to the support and encQurage- went of common schools throUighout .the state, ~nd for the equal b~Iiefi.t"ofall
". the 'people"thereof; and ,1'10 law shaH 1:>e ,n,tade a'9:thorizing sl1id fU~d or any
'part, there()f. to be divert~dto any ;Qth~1; use t~an the sUI?polt a;nd e~<:l01l;I'~~e-
./ 88 / " CODE, O.F~, 'l'iENNESSEE. "
ment of common schoels. T'he state'taxes;',der.ived\hereaft~r(.:f\rom' ~ills,shall be "appropriated' to e~ucational purposes,' in su~4,mantler afO the' general assembly sh'all from time to time direct by law.. No school established,or aided m\.der this section ,'3hall allow white and negro children to be received as scholars together .in the same school. The above provisions shall not 'prevent the legislature from carrying into effect any' laws ,that. ,have been; passed in
, favor of the college, universities or academies, or from authorizing -heirs, or dis- tributees to receive and enjoy escheated property under such laws as shall be
~. passedfromtimetotiille. ." ;J ,' ,
1. The remainder of this section, in the constitution of 1834, art. 11, SM. 10, read as follows: "And it shall be the duty of the general assembly to appoint a board of commis· sioners, for such term of time as they may think proper, who shall have t~e general super· intendence of said fund, and who shall make a report of the condition of the same from time to 'time, under such rules, regulations, and re'strictions,' as may::be' -req~ired by law: Provided, That if at any time hereafter a division of the public lands of the Unit!ld States,
-or of the money arising from the sales of stic,h, lands, shall be ,made amprrg the ~ndiv~dual. states, the part of such lands or money comiIlg to this state shall be d~voted to the pur- poses of education and internal improvement; and shall'never be applied to any' othe,r pur·
pose. "
, 2. By constitution of 1834, art. 11, sec. 11, this subject, was continued as follows: "The above provisions shall not be construed to prevent the legislature from carryiilg into effect any laws that have been passed in favor of the colleges, universities, or academies, or from' authorizing heirs or distributees to 'l'eceive' and enjoy eschea>ted property, under
,such rules and regulations as from time to time may be prescribed by law.'.' 3, None of this matter was in the constitution of 1796.
, 4. Power of the legislature oVer the school fund.-The legislature could compromise a suit instituted in behalf of the school fund, and could appoint commissioners' for that purpose. 5 Hum. 279. When the school fund was made a part of the capital of the Bank of Tcnnes:;;ee, it became a part of the assets of the bank, subject to the claims of its credit- ors. The act of February 16, 1866, appropriating the assets of the bank for" the benefit of the school fund was, therefore, an art impairing the obligation of contraCts. 5, Bax~ l.
5. See also, state v. Knoxville, 7 Cates (ll5 Tenn.) 186; Edmonson v. Boatd, 24 Pickle (108 Tenn.) "56'3; State v. University, 3 Pickle (87 Tenn.) 2 3 9 ., ' ,
Clearly the Tennessee Constitution, the document quoted, had a primary purpose of the state a free, equal, education system. Just as clearly, the governor and legislature's proposals for changing the education system in this state is in direct violation of both the intent and, often, the letter of the law. A compelling argument can be made that those wanting to funnel public money into the private sector and out of the "common" good are committing criminal acts which can , and should, be punished with consequences ranging from impeachment, to imprisonment. Of course, we would need a citizenry with the intelligence to recognize this, the moral standing to demand it and the testicular fortitude to fight for it. What we need, as progressives, are up to date interpretations of our constitution that clearly define the states duties and a game plan to fight for the rights of a "common" education system. A lot has changed since this was written, but unless the purpose and general implementation of what constitutes a "Common" education was overturned in a federal ruling, then those governing us are acting in a treasonous manner in direct violation of their constitutionally mandated duties. One doesn't fight mange by trimming the hair on a dogs tail, one fights mange by shaving the dog and treating the problem. It's time to shave the dog.
A cleaner version
Section 12. The state of Tennessee recognizes the inherent value of education and encourages its support. The General Assembly shall provide for the mainte- nance, support and eligibility standards of a system of free public schools. The General Assembly may establish and support such post-secondary educational institutions, including public institutions of higher learning, as it determines.
In short, the General Assembly has no defined power to fund or regulate schools in the private sector. It only has the power, and obligation, to fund public schools in a manner which recognizes the inherent value of education in general. That's the law.
They will say anything
This blew up on the SPEAK page.
Are you kidding me?
When asked directly about the teacher resignation letter (thank you Gene Patterson!), they show no understanding of the issues, no sympathy for the teacher except, "I'm sorry," and continue the tired old lines of "we put together a committee...we're working on it...our teachers are fabulous...not all teachers feel that way..." blah, blah, blah. I'm not satisfied at all by this response by the Superintendent and the Chair of the Board of Education. We deserve better.
birds of a feather
(in reply to Treehouse)
"we put together a committee...we're working on it...our teachers are fabulous...not all teachers feel that way..."
Could you believe those two? Fugate takes credit for the Teachers Advisory Committee. Which was a demand from the teachers. And McIntyre brags about how they listen to the teachers.
What about this McIntyre?
Busted for lying and hiding the results of the Teachers Advisory Committee. On film.
What's UT's pension got to do
What's UT's pension got to do with Emerald Charter School?
School Board this evening
(in reply to Bbeanster)
Well Betty, when are you going to take off the gloves? Black Wednesday had nothing on this School Board. Karen Carson wants to censor teachers at public forum. You have to speak to what is on the agenda in public forum? And the School Board by policy doesn't have to respond? What other body in this county has those rules? Why should any body be able to do this.
When are you and the Shopper going to take a stand? How many lies can go unchallenged? Doug Harris ignores that Knox County is fourth in local spending. But 51st after state funding is added in. Scoobie, Lumpy, and the rest never pulled what this School Board is pulling. What about the rest of you? Afraid of the Haslams? Nothing has ever compared to this. Talk about false idols.
McIntyre tells the School Board their vote on Emerald Youth Charter doesn't matter because the state will veto a no vote?
Heat and the kitchen.
Well Betty, when are you
(in reply to Just Watching)
Well Betty, when are you going to take off the gloves? Black Wednesday had nothing on this School Board. Karen Carson wants to censor teachers at public forum. You have to speak to what is on the agenda in public forum? And the School Board by policy doesn't have to respond? What other body in this county has those rules? Why should any body be able to do this.
When are you and the Shopper going to take a stand? How many lies can go unchallenged?>>>
Well, heck.
Evidently you found out about Jim and me hanging out at the club cutting deals. Dagnabbit, can't get away with nuttin nowadays.
Just call me a tool of the rich and famous.
What other body in this
(in reply to Just Watching)
What other body in this county has those rules?
City Council. And probably County Commission, although I don't know that for sure.
You're misdirecting anger at Betty,
(in reply to Just Watching)
because she's here.
Ever hear her call teachers people with merely "gripes" or dismiss candidates in opposition to the status quo as "conspiracy theorist"?
Did you see this somewhere else? (link...)
I don't know "Rocky Top Politics", so I laid off. But this part the story did stir my interest; "Already there are calls for investigations and audits which lead us to a comple of conclusions..."
Did you see this somewhere else? (link...)
Maybe the KNS did report two Republican lawmakers are seeking an investigation on what happened at the end of the year with TCAPs. Maybe they did a feature on local representative Gloria Johnson, along with other Dem legislators, seeking an open records request. I haven't seen it.
You should be mad at the silence you hear, but it's not been Bean's.
Interesting that the 'public
Interesting that the 'public input' meeting was timed (or moved?) to coincide with the return of Knox County students and teachers from their annual Washington DC field trip. The (dozens of) buses pulled in at 6:30 pm and hundreds of parents were lined up in their cars waiting to pick up their kids.
This was the board's regular
This was the board's regular monthly Monday workshop meeting. No conspiracy here.
Sorry, no time to read all
Sorry, no time to read all comments, maybe this has been said, but the point is that there is nothing new or innovative in this application. This is what the Community Schools are doing…but with better results and more community benefits. Why are we funding another building and more teachers for the same number of kids when Emerald could partner with Inskip or Vine or some other existing school and do every single thing in that application? A few students will be pulled from various schools which will not free up a single teaching position, we will continue to pay the same number of teachers because we aren't closing a building or complete classes…just a few here and there…stretching our already tight dollars to yet one more facility.
Why are we funding another
(in reply to glostik)
Why are we funding another building and more teachers for the same number of kids when Emerald could partner with Inskip or Vine or some other existing school and do every single thing in that application?
it's a business deal
Knox Board of Education knows this is a bad, bad idea
sucking state dollars and solid families from inner city schools that need them the most or need them now more than ever. It is indistinguishable from the other applications that they have summarily dismissed without a second look.
Poor Fugate looks stupid and pitiful saying their decision doesn't matter (if it doesn't matter why are you in office?) they know the politics of this application are light years ahead of where the board futzes around regularly and they'll have a hard time even calling for a vote on this one because they know it's wrong, but in my opinion, like the spineless and worthless wanna bees that they are (including McIntyre) they can't bring themselves to vote no.
This is merely an educational example of why Knoxville and Knox County don't work anymore and Knoxville is no longer the cultural, educational, social, business, or economic center of East Tennessee, they've slowly abdicated those roles to other communities through rank incompetent and improperly motivated leadership.
Worst school board ever.
Worst school board ever.
Might as well auction themselves off on Ebay. It'd be a hell of a lot more honest.
Black Wednesday was nothing
(in reply to KC)
"Worst school board ever."
Most arrogant school board ever:
Can you believe that?
Then, in the same meeting, Chair Fugate is going to censor a teacher?
So now the school board refuse to listen to teachers? And they demand respect? This in a county that lost 200 teachers this year.
On the SPEAK page
School Board is considering canceling Public Forum tonight.
Absolutely not true
We are not changing public forum tonight or for the foreseeable future. People who want to speak on an agenda item will get to do so BEFORE we vote on that item.
I support the right of all people, including KCS employees, to address the Board during public forum. Call 594-1630 if you want to sign up.
I believe most Public Forum commenters over the last 9 months, teachers and others, have been raising macro issues that cannot be addressed or remedied at the school level.
Indya Kincannon
Thanks, Indya
It's looking chilly toward free speech from some of the board members. I heard (from Bean) that your board secretary tried to discourage some kid this morning who called to get on the agenda -- suggested that he write a letter instead.
It's out of our hands. That's
It's out of our hands.
That's a new one, lol.
The spam post immediately above to have dredged up this year-old thread reminded me: I believe April 1 is the annual deadline for any charter school sponsors interested in submitting proposals for the upcoming year? At least it used to be.
Is this still the case and if so, were any proposals submitted last week? I haven't tried to find out...
In answer to my own question posed above, yes, it appears that the policy dictating a charter school application deadline of April 1 remains in effect. The charter school application review committee was to have received applications from March 15 through April 1, the policy says. The policy also says that any applications received are to be posted to the KCS website--but I don't immediately see any apps there.
If anybody should spot an app there, please share?
See KCS policy entitled "Public Charter Schools" here.
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text:
Asur Hotel
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TravelPod Member ReviewsAsur Hotel Istanbul
I was pleasantly surprised upon arrival at Asur Hotel. The hotel is perfectly located just a 3 minute walk from the Gulhane tram stop and the underground metro. The Sultanahmet district is a 10 minute walk away. This is the historic center where you will find monuments and sites such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern.
The reception staff were always on hand to help me out at any time of the day or night. The room I stayed in was clean and beautifully decorated. The bathroom was small, but manageable. The housekeeping staff cleaned the room well every day. The WiFi was superb.
Breakfast was a large spread and typically Turkish with bread, cheeses, some cold meats and Turkish pastries.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TravelPod member and not of TravelPod.com.
TripAdvisor Reviews Asur Hotel Istanbul
Travel Blogs from Istanbul
Touchdown Turkey
Landing in Istanbul after an agonizing layover and 14 hours of flight time, I was tired and irritated. I rushed through the airport to make my way to the bathrooms so I could remove my money belt from my bag and wrap it around my waist. I splashed some water on my face and noticed just how red my eyes were. It had been well over 24 hours since I …
Day 1 Izmir (Friday). Third largest city in Turkey. Set in a bay, the Riviera of Turkey, and the most liberal city in Turkey. At last a port with only two cruise ships docked. We had decided to go to the bazaar, visit a mosque and see the very high end stores on the main boulevard. We luckily met a German couple who asked if we wanted to share a taxi. So, off we went on a wonderful drive. Along the the picturesque promenade, with many waterfront restaurants with patios. Could easily ...
Walking Istanbul and Happy Birthday Greg!
... found Pavillion after Pavilion. We loved them. High, high ceilings and domes, tiled and a breeze straight off the water. A view to top all views and couches everywhere. ( You could just imagine The Sultan lying there being fanned by servants.) There was a Pavillion for everything. Everything. There was a special Pavillion for circumcision. ( I did say 'everything') Magnificent lily ponds, enormous old trees. Roses in bloom everywhere. And the white ...
Day 89
... we will explore tomorrow. The landscape here is really unique, we pull off the quite road before the village and set up camp. The local farmers are bringing their animals back to the village, one stopped to chat, him in Turkish and us in English, as usual we manage to make some sense of each other. Later in the evening a car stopped on the road and a couple of chaps walked around us with torches, they didn't knock, so we stayed in side and they went away. Photos to ...
Turkish delight!
... summer is just around the corner.
After lunch, we walked down to the port, trying to find one of the recommended coffee places. After a full lap and about an hour of walking (the map not exactly to scale…), we found Bej, a cool sixties style caf� that served up a short macchiato – we just can't do the Turkish stuff. It requires a level of skill (to not suck up the grounds at the bottom of the cup) that takes years to learn. I think they're in ...

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Mexican Hideaways
By FLORENCE FABRICANT
Published: April 27, 2003
MINUTES after arriving at Casa Las Brisas near Puerto Vallarta, I felt like a houseguest, not a hotel client. As my husband, Richard, and I entered through the large wooden gate set into a stucco wall, we were greeted with a breezy hello by Mauricio, a staff member. A sleek little gray dog with a smart red collar danced at his heels. ''That's Tristan,'' he said. ''You'll get used to him.''
He immediately took our bags up to our room, flung open the French doors leading to the terrace and asked what we would like to drink. There were no formalities or papers to sign. Minutes later he delivered big, deliciously icy margaritas, which we sipped while we unpacked.
Casa Las Brisas, one of two small resorts near Puerto Vallarta where I stayed during a six-day trip in February, is a gracious, secluded six-bedroom villa. Right on Careyero Beach at Punta de Mita, it is a 45-minute taxi ride from the Puerto Vallarta airport. A sprawling Four Seasons hotel had recently put Punta de Mita on the tourist map. Casa Las Brisas was just beyond and out of view on a generous curve of Pacific beach dotted with large private vacation houses, some still under construction. It was reached from a rutted dirt road off an efficient new highway that we picked up some distance from Puerto Vallarta and that led to Punta de Mita.
Our room was airy and spacious, with beautiful tile work and typical carved wood colonial-style furniture, king-size bed, some Indonesian accessories, a ceiling fan, air-conditioning, but no telephones or television (there is a TV room on the property). It overlooked stone terraces, a blue mosaic-tile pool, and the silken white beach.
We took a walk, a swim in the warm, somewhat forceful surf (the sea became calmer on subsequent days) and then a dip in the pool. A fellow behind the bar, which served both the pool and the adjacent thatched palapa-style dining room, asked if we'd like a drink. Absolutely.
He was the owner, Marc Lindskog, a genial American architect who first visited Mexico nearly 20 years ago, came to love it, and wanted to find an excuse to live there permanently. He finally designed and built Casa Las Brisas two years ago.
And he runs it as if it were his home. His personal suite of rooms is behind carved wooden doors off a little public salon. The bar is open and included in the room rate -- under $400 a day for two people in high season. Mealtimes are flexible; Marc's accommodating staff is always there to see to your comfort, and his two miniature Italian greyhounds, Tristan and Allegra, become your pets. If you have to make a call, his cellphone is available. Miscommunication before our departure had left Richard and me with less cash than we intended to bring; Marc cashed our personal check. No wonder some of the guests we met, all Americans and a diverse group, were return visitors.
Casa Las Brisas is a seductively quiet enclave for walks on the beach, swimming in the sea or the pool, hours of lounging, reading or chatting with the other guests or the host, glorious sunsets and, if you can muster the energy, an excursion or two. There is a workout room, but we did not bother.
It was February, the season of the whale migrations. We arranged to take a boat from Punta de Mita to watch the whales and then go snorkeling. Fabrizio Aguilar, the manager, drove us to Punta de Mita and arranged for an open motorboat with guide.
At $40 an hour, plus an extra $5 an hour to the agency that arranged for our guide, Alberto, our four-hour excursion was the only extra fee we paid during our stay at Casa Las Brisas.
We saw humpbacks by the dozen, spouting, surfacing and gracefully diving with their broad, winglike tails slipping into the water. They were so close that the binoculars we had borrowed from the hotel were unnecessary.
Then the boat took us to the Marietas, a nature reserve of rocky little islands populated by flocks of gulls, boobies, cormorants and frigate birds wheeling in the air or perched on the cliffs. Alberto led us snorkeling close to the rocks where the water was thick with tour groups in life vests, and then swimming through a cave to a tranquil little beach where we relaxed a bit before heading back to Punta de Mita. We had a pleasant lunch in town, under the thatch of a seaside restaurant known for grilled shrimp and red snapper.
Unfortunately, we missed the paella at Casa Las Brisas. No problem; they saved us a portion for dinner.
The food at the hotel was abundant and good. At breakfast under an umbrella around the pool, almost any egg or pancake dish was available, including huevos rancheros, of course, accompanied by fresh fruit, juices and good, strong coffee. Lunches on the terrace, under the palapa or at the bar, started with a platter of nibbles like guacamole, salsa and chips, empanadas and even crisp spring rolls, followed by sandwiches, salads, or an occasional hot dish like enchiladas or paella, with fruit for dessert. The choices at lunch were limited; there were more selections at dinner.


text:
19324 Santee Lane
Valley Center, CA 92082
Park Phone: (760) 742-1631
Hours: 8 a.m. - sunset, Friday - Monday*
Pedestrian access available sunrise to sunset*, Friday - Monday, no public vehicle access or restroom availability on December 25.
*Closed Tuesday - Thursday, and in August, due to extreme heat
Directions: From Escondido take East Valley Parkway to N. Lake Wohlford Rd. Go right on N. Lake Wohlford Rd. for 6 miles to Paradise Mountain Rd. Make a right at Paradise Mountain Rd. Take Paradise Mountain Rd. for 3.5 miles to Kiavo Rd. Take Kiavo Rd. one block to Santee Lane and make a left up the preserve entrance.
Get park updates and check for closures on our News Page


text:
- Report: #210526
Report - Rebuttal - Arbitrate
Complaint Review: LEAN RX
LEAN RXOntario, Ontario Canada
LEAN RX - LEAN LIFE - HOODIA ripoff APPARENTLY DEBITED MY ACCOUNT AT THE SAME TIME. Ontario Canada *EDitor's Suggestions on how to get your money back into your bank account!
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Went to the bank 9/8/06 and they graciously took care of the problem. I also cancelled my debit card.
Tried to balance my checkbook and could not figure out where about $80.00 had gone.
This morning (9/12/06), I find there is another unauthorized charge to my account from LEAN RX in Ontario, Canada. Called the toll free number and got automated message, again, told them they made unauthorized charge to my account.
Told them they made me have to cancel my card and that they keep changing the company name to make the debit charges because I was blocking the names I was aware of.
ECURVES name is new to me, but under the impression that they use that name also.
Also told them they were not getting anymore money from me and that I reported them to this site.
Sweetwater, Tennessee
EDitor's Suggestions on how to get your money back!
Go to your bank within 60 days of the charge, or as soon as you know about the charge, don't delay, and tell them that there has been fraudulent activity within your account. Explain that you wish to file a dispute, and demand that they assist you in accordance with Federal Regulation E.
According to the majority of victims interviewed by Rip-off Report, those who immediately called their banks to dispute the charges did not get very far. Many victims got the following responses from their banks: we could not do anything for you or you waited too long; it has been more than 60 days.
If the bank is says that you have waited too long, explain to them how you called their 800 number as soon as the charges were found, and were told by the bank that nothing could be done. Remind the bank that they failed to assist you properly at the 800 #, and instead, provided you with an inadequate explanation of your right to dispute. Tell the bank that it's their fault time has expired, and since they gave you the wrong info to begin with, they will just have to deal with it, take the loss and reverse the charges.
Tell them the truth; this was unauthorized and your account was NOT to be charged! Keep emphasizing how you never authorized anything! Direct them to the hundreds of victims reports that were filed on Rip-off Report.com. And if you're at the bank, walk them over to their computer and make them go to this site! If you are on the phone with them, tell them you will wait while they access this site! Either way, be persistent!
Let them know nicely, that you were advised to Report them (the Bank) and this situation to the Banking Commission in your state. Since each state has a different name for the agency/controller over banks, find that name before you call or get to the bank so you can throw it in their face. The more knowledgeable you appear to be, the further you will get.
And just continue to demand the Federal Regulation E form! The bank CAN, MUST and WILL reverse the charge! But, you must be persistent; ask to speak to the supervisor or the area manager for all the branches in the state.
Let the bank personnel know you are meeting with the media later in the day, that you would much rather they do the right thing (as most other banks have) by looking at the complaints and immediately reversing the charge(s) to your account; no matter how long ago it was. Be sure to call the Media if necessary so you are telling the truth.
If you have to, be loud (but nice) in front of other customers. If you are just calling by phone, the above tactics should still work. The bank can easily fax or mail to you the Federal Regulation E dispute form.
If the charge was to your credit card (not debit card, check card, or checking account), contact the credit card company as soon as possible to request a dispute form. Consumers usually have a little longer to dispute fraudulent credit card charges (up to 6 months), but it is better to act right away. In this type of situation, credit card disputes are usually successful since fraudulent companies often won't contest the disputed charge. In rare cases, credit card companies will review disputes, but refuse to reverse the charges. If this occurs, complain to a manager and let them know you will be filing a report here.
Remember Don't let them get away with it! Make sure they make the Rip-off Report .. The more Reports filed on a Company or individual, the more likely it is that the authorities, media and attorneys will want to take action.
And good luck Let us know how you do!
ED Magedson Founder, Rip-off Report.com & Author of www.ripoffrevenge.com
Don't let them get away with it.
Make sure they make the Rip-off Report!
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CLICK HERE to read about Credit Card Scams... find out how to get your money back. *Rip-off Report Investigation provides valuable information.
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 09/12/2006 05:53 AM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/LEAN-RX/Ontario-Ontario/LEAN-RX-LEAN-LIFE-HOODIA-ripoff-APPARENTLY-DEBITED-MY-ACCOUNT-AT-THE-SAME-TIME-Ontari-210526. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year.
Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report.
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Updated: 8/21/2015 5:35 P.M.
Some Belpre taxpayers are getting surprise in their mailboxes-and not a good one.
They're being told they owe city income taxes for 2013.
It's a legitimate mailing, from the Regional Income Tax Agency, which now handles the city's income tax collections.
The city says the letters are sent to residents who did not pay taxes for that year, beyond what was claimed on W-2 forms.
"People, for instance, who deliver newspapers, are paid as subcontractors and get a miscellaneous imcome," says Auditor Leslie Pittenger. "They get a 1099 instead of a W-2. So that income shows up on the form as miscellaneous income."
RITA took over Belpre's city income taxes collections back in 2012.
The notices were recently sent to more than a thousand residents.
An agency that coordinates the filing of municipal taxes around Ohio extended its filing deadline until Monday.
The Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA) says its website and phone system were overwhelmed with hits and calls from last minute filers.
Belpre is one of the communities it serves.
RITA says the problem is so many people waited until the last minute to file.
The tax agency said it experienced an "unprecedented demand" for online services, including the electronic filing of municipal income taxes in dozens of communities across Ohio.


text:
- Report: #86768
Report - Rebuttal - Arbitrate
Complaint Review: First Consumers National Bank
First Consumers National BankP.O. Box 2779 Portland, Oregon U.S.A.
First Consumers National Bank FCNB ripoff Portland Oregon
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When I called them they told me they never received payment and that those were late charges that were added on. In the 3 years I had their card I always had problems with them overcharging, charging late fees when I never made minimum payment, late fees that were added when they added on the "yearly" charge.
The funny thing is I never received a statement after the payoff. I did however receive something a year later from a collection bureau and since I didnt recognize the name on the account, never pursued it. Now I wish I had.
They are still refusing to take it off my report even tho they have had the proof sent to them that it is PAID IN FULL!!!
SO now I have $3000 on my report that does not belong to me. And how could they be bankrupt when they took advantage of people the way they did! Seems to me with all the charges they came up with at their discretion should be more then enough to keep them going!
This company never posted payments on time...and at one time talking to someone they finally found my payment stuck on someones desk because they did not know where to send it? And then it was like pulling teeth to get the late fees off. Another time they posted it a day late and added the fees and when I called them and told them that the check had cleared 2 days before that, they still refused to take off the fees until I PROOVED to them (by cancelled check) that that was the case. They argue with you on everything you call about and are very rude.
Ceresco, Nebraska
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 04/06/2004 10:09 AM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/First-Consumers-National-Bank/Portland-Oregon-97208/First-Consumers-National-Bank-FCNB-ripoff-Portland-Oregon-86768. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year.
Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report.
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- Do not include ".com", "S", "Inc.", "Corp", or "LLC" at the end of the Company name.
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- Only search one name at a time if Company has many AKA's.
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Happy Thursday Music Boxers,
Opening this week is the critical-acclaimed Ida, the newest release from Music Box Films. From director Pawel Pawlikowski comes this moving and intimate drama about a young novitiate nun in 1960s Poland who, on the verge of taking her vows, makes a shocking discovery about her past. A.O. Scott of The New York Times raves, "One of the finest European films in recent memory".
We're also showing the monster movie that started it all with Godzilla: The Japanese Original, as well as the gritty black comedy God's Pocket and erotic drama Young & Beautiful.
On Monday, we're open early for a special presentation of National Theatre Live's King Lear, the hit London production of one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies.
Our Hitchcock weekend matinees continue with Psycho, the shocking film that created the modern horror genre, starring Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins. Come see the most famous shower in cinema on the big screen!
Our midnights this weekend include cult disasterpiece The Room on Friday, the classic musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show (with live shadowcast!) on Saturday, and the controversial and transgressive Don't Deliver Us From Evil, also on Saturday.
See you at the movies
Thursday, May 22nd – Wednesday, May 28th, 2014
This Week's Sponsor:
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A film by Pawel Pawlikowski starring Agata Trzebuchowska, Agata Kulesza, Dawid Ogrodnik
Anna, a young novitiate nun in 1960s Poland, is on the verge of taking her vows when she discovers a dark family secret dating back to the years of the Nazi occupation.
From acclaimed director Pawel Pawlikowski (Last Resort, My Summer of Love) comes Ida, a moving and intimate drama about a young novitiate nun in 1960s Poland who, on the verge of taking her vows, discovers a dark family secret dating from the terrible years of the Nazi occupation.
18-year old Anna (stunning newcomer Agata Trzebuchowska), a sheltered orphan raised in a convent, is preparing to become a nun when the Mother Superior insists she first visit her sole living relative. Naïve, innocent Anna soon finds herself in the presence of her aunt Wanda (Agata Kulesza), a worldly and cynical Communist Party insider, who shocks her with the declaration that her real name is Ida and her Jewish parents were murdered during the Nazi occupation. This revelation triggers a heart-wrenching journey into the countryside, to the family house and into the secrets of the repressed past, evoking the haunting legacy of the Holocaust and the realities of postwar Communism.
In this beautifully directed film, Pawlikowski returns to his native Poland for the first time in his career to confront some of the more contentious issues in the history of his birthplace. Powerfully written and eloquently shot, Ida is a masterly evocation of a time, a dilemma, and a defining historical moment; Ida is also personal, intimate, and human. The weight of history is everywhere, but the scale falls within the scope of a young woman learning about the secrets of her own past. This intersection of the personal with momentous historic events makes for what is surely one of the most powerful and affecting films of the year.
GODZILLA: The Japanese Original
A film by Ishirô Honda
60th anniversary restoration! The complete, uncut original! GODZILLA: The Japanese Original (a.k.a. GORJIRA) is the roaring granddaddy of all monster movies. It's also a remarkably humane and melancholy drama, made in Japan at a time when the country was reeling from nuclear attack and H-bomb testing in the Pacific. Its rampaging radioactive beast, the poignant embodiment of an entire population's fears, became a beloved international icon of destruction, spawning almost thirty sequels.
On a sunny day with calm waters, a Japanese steamer sinks in flames when the sea erupts; a salvage vessel sent to the rescue disappears the same way; exhausted, incoherent survivors babble of a monster. Could it be…? Then the biggest-budgeted film in Japanese history, the original Godzilla spawned 60 years of sequels and remakes, countless rip-offs, and a new genre: the kaiju eiga, or Japanese monster movie.
Released in the U.S. in a butchered version called Godzilla: King of the Monsters, it was re-cut, re-arranged and atrociously dubbed, with cheesy new scenes (shot in Hollywood) of a pre-Perry Mason Raymond Burr observing the action from the sidelines. To make room for Burr and to excise a strong anti-nuclear subtext, King of the Monsters deleted 40 minutes of the Japanese version — its very heart — including the opening credits and ominous main theme by the great Akira Ifukube; Tokyo commuters wisecracking about surviving yet another disaster; a vituperative session in the Japanese parliament; a TV announcer's hilarious stomp-by-stomp account of the monster's rampage; the original cautionary ending; and more scenes with the real (human) star of the movie, Takashi Shimura (also the Seven Samurai leader that year).
It's a tour de force by special effects genius Eiji Tsuburaya, whose use of "suitmation," the often-belittled "man in a monster suit" method, was due to time and budget restraints. But, in concert with noirish cinematography, this low-tech approach is still as thrilling as ever.
Subtitles by Bruce Goldstein and Michie Yamakawa. DCP restoration.
Godzilla®, Gojira and the character design are trademarks of Toho Co., Ltd. ©1954 Toho Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
God's Pocket
A film by John Slattery starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christina Hendricks, John Turturro
The only thing they can't forgive is not being from… God's Pocket.
In the gritty, blue-collar neighborhood of God's Pocket, Mickey Scarpato's crazy stepson, Leon, is killed in a construction "accident," and Mickey quickly tries to bury the bad news with the body. But when a local columnist comes sniffing around for the truth, things go from bad to worse. Mickey finds himself stuck in a life-and-death struggle compounded by a body he can't bury, a wife he can't please, and a debt he can't pay.
Acclaimed actor John Slattery makes an impressive jump behind the camera with an assured directorial debut that shows he has a razor-sharp eye for conveying the absurdity, cruelty, desperation, and tragic optimism of the people he portrays. Like life, his scenes seamlessly fuse humor and heartbreak, but it's Slattery's wit and confident style that make the portrait so authentic. Featuring a top-shelf cast and impeccable cinematography, God's Pocket oozes with talent and marks the emergence of an inspired directorial presence.
A film by Alfred Hitchcock starring Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins
Credited with inventing the genre of the modern horror, Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho features Anthony Perkins as the lonely motel keeper Norman Bates. Bates presides over an out-of-the-way motel under the domineering specter of his mother. Janet Leigh plays Marion Crane, a blonde on the run with stolen money who checks into the motel for the night.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
A film by Jim Sharman starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Richard O'Brien, Charles Gray, Meatloaf, Barry Bostwick
Featuring the Midnight Madness shadowcast, who ensure what's happening in the audience is just as entertaining as what is on screen.
This notorious horror parody — a fast-paced potpourri of camp, sci-fi and rock 'n' roll, among other things — tracks the exploits of naïve couple Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon) after they stumble upon the lair of transvestite Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry).
For 35 years, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has delighted audiences and terrified parents. The Music Box Theatre is the proud Chicago home of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Every screening has a shadowcast of the film (that's actors acting in front of the screen during the film), and the Halloween screenings are known to sell out!
The Midnight Madness Virgin Kit (or "prop bag") contains all you need for a Rocky Horror showing. Midnight Madness sells participation kits at The Music Box for $3. The performers do not get paid for performing at any venue, and 100% of the proceeds from kit sales go back to cast costumes, props, promotions, etc.
What's in the bag?
Balloon, Glow Stick, Time Warp Flier, Rubber Glove, Noisemaker, Confetti Bag, Toilet Paper, Party Hat, Sponge, Paper Plates, Cards, Instructions, Bag
Do not throw objects at the screen — that's just not cool and can damage a very expensive screen. Thanks!
The Room
A film by Tommy Wiseau starring Tommy Wiseau, Juliette Danielle and Greg Sestero
This "electrifying American black comedy about love, passion, betrayal and lies" stars (and was directed, written and produced by) the mysterious Tommy Wiseau, and has been a cult favorite in LA since 2003!. "Enter The Room and leave forever changed!"
Uninhibited by cinematic convention, this quirky cult favorite about lust and duplicity delivers nonstop laughs from beginning to end as the film's central character (writer-director Tommy Wiseau) discovers that his foxy fiancée, Lisa (Juliette Danielle), is bedding his best friend. Adding to the hilarity are Greg Sestero, who plays the backstabbing buddy, and Carolyn Minnott as Lisa's materialistic mom.
Young & Beautiful
A film by François Ozon starring Marine Vacth, Géraldine Pailhas, Frédéric Pierrot, Charlotte Rampling
The portrait of a 17 year-old girl, in 4 seasons and 4 songs.
Acclaimed director François Ozon (Swimming Pool, 8 Women) helms this erotic tale of sexual awakening. After losing her virginity, 17-year-old budding beauty Isabelle (Marine Vacth) takes up a secret life as a call girl, meeting her older gentlemen clients for erotic hotel room trysts. Throughout, she remains curiously aloof, showing little interest in the encounters themselves or the money she makes, while Ozon slyly refrains from offering easy answers. As the enigmatic Isabelle, Marine Vacth is magnetic, delivering a star-making breakout performance in this sleek and sexy coming-of-age drama.
Don't Deliver Us from Evil
A film by Joël Séria starring Jeanne Goupil, Catherine Wagener
Proof that you get a lot more "shock" value from an actual shocking subject than a truckload of karo syrup and pig guts! This film is smart, controversial, profound, and highly-transgressive, with an unsettling and electric ending. A unique and unrestrained exploration of evil that dives playfully into the depths of amorality lying inside the minds of children.
Two French schoolgirls, Anna and Lore, spend their summer exploring the limitations of adolescence through a series of increasingly "evil acts", all hoisted against the confines of their restrictive Catholic boarding school. Their deeds flanked by passages of Lautreamont and Buadelaire, this is beautiful, high-art horror, with no clip-art red devils to cling to for comfort.
It's the lack of any overt "supernatural" presence that imbues Anna and Lore with a scarier hellfire. One that exists here in the real world. Where things really burn, and where two little Catholic girls can really seduce you, and really kill you.
It has a decadent and insular, escalating immorality that hardens from the amoral consciousness of children. And so a coming-of-age tale produces original and ripe horrors. These depths can cut pretty deep, and Seria guides the knife into the heart of it, equally playfully. The beautiful ending is the culmination of the film, all gathered in one concentrated ball of high art… from the depths of hell!
Presented by Cathode Love!
Visit Music Box Films
Music Box Members receive discounts on all regular screenings & select Special Events!
The box office accepts cash, Visa and MasterCard. The Music Box Theatre Box Office is open daily from 15 minutes before the first show of the day until 15 minutes after the last show of the day. Tickets can also be purchase in advance online at MusicBoxTheatre.com.
For showtimes, call (773) 871-6604.
Getting here
The Music Box is located at 3733 North Southport Avenue, Chicago 60613. Metered street parking is available on Southport Avenue. The Music Box is a short walk east from free street parking on Ashland Avenue. There is a parking lot one block north of the theatre at the Blaine School ($10).
The theater is near the Southport station on CTA's Brown Line and the 152 Addison, 9 Ashland and 80/X80 Irving Park bus routes.
For public transit information, call 836-7000.
We look forward to seeing you soon!


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Editor's note: This article about Perry Central's Veterans Day program was written by Perry Central senior Zosha Roberson.
TELL CITY – Kelli Braunecker, a first-grade teacher at William Tell Elementary School, was awarded a grant in the amount of $508.95 from the Indiana Retired Teachers Association.
One grant was awarded in each of the 10 regional areas of Indiana. Braunecker's grant proposal was selected from among 127 applications in the first year awards of active teacher grants.
By STUART CASSIDY
Staff Writer
TELL CITY – The Tell City Marching Marksmen will continue their successful season all the way to Indianapolis. With a top-10 finish last weekend at the semistate competition at Franklin High School, the band earned a spot to the state finals Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
It will be the Marksmen band's first trip to the state finals in nine years, having placed seventh in 2006.
Copyright © 2016
The Perry County News is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Perry County, Indiana, and the surrounding area.


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Carmen Bin Ladin/ Carmen Dufour was born in 1954 in Lausanne, Switzerland. Her father was Swiss, hence the name Dufour, and her mother was Persian. She was raised in Lausanne by her mother along with three other sisters.
From 1974 to 1988, she was married to one of Osama bin Laden's older brothers, Yeslam bin Ladin. They were married in 1974 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
In 2004, she published Inside the Kingdom: My Life in Saudi Arabia, a personal account of her life as a Saudi Arabian wife and mother. The book contains insights into life in the bin Laden family and her relationship with them and her former husband.
She later moved to Geneva with her then husband and three children, and finally left her husband in 1988, asking for a divorce in 1994. She finally obtained a divorce 12 years later in January 2006.
She lives in Switzerland with her three daughters.
This biography was last updated on 11/11/2014.
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Ph D, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Economics, 1985.
Professor and Department Chair, Boston University. (July 1, 2009 - Present).
MBA Professor of the Year Award for Cohort B, BU School of Management, Teaching. (May 2, 2013).
Students in cohort B select the best professor from their first year in the MBA program.
Award given to support and recognize research contribution of faculty at BU's SMG
Best English language paper in health economics published in 2011 for "Unhealthy Insurance Markets: Search Frictions and the Cost and Quality of Health Insurance" American Economic Review, 2011.


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When I put the shortcode of a category, e.g. [wpsc_products category_id='10'] into a page and make the main shop site http://www.domain.com/shop/ the parent of that page (thus http://www.domain.com/shop/cat10/), then I get a 404 error.
When I give that "cat10"-page no parent site, then the error does not occur and everything is fine. But how to make pages work as childs of the "shop"-parent?
I did not had this issue with some previous versions ago, so it must have to do with one of the updates recently provided.


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Enter your e-mail address.
Enter the password that accompanies your e-mail.
I am not ready for pumpkin season to end, and by that I mean the time of the year full of pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin lattes, and even pumpkin smoothies. I honestly can't get enough pumpkin both because of its warm, comforting taste but also because it has a ton of health benefits it's full of vitamin A, potassium, fiber, beta carotene, and more and because it contains 0 weight watchers points a definite winner. One way that I continue to eat pumpkin throughout the year is this yummy and simple slow cooker oatmeal. For this version I use steel cut oats and cook it in the slow cooker so it's ready to eat first thing in the morning. However, you could definitely substitute regular oats (you would need to double to amount of oats since they don't expand as much) or cook on the stove. You could also easily substitute the pumpkin for other fruit. There are lots of variations once you get the basic recipe down.
View the discussion thread.
Helping thousands of people make meal planning, healthy eating, and weight loss delicious and stress free.


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Jan 11 2013
Only one link per comment is allowed
31 Comments
At last a Muslim talking some truth! They do stink in fact they reek. Maybe cos of the filth they call a religion rotting what they have as brains.
I laughed so hard at the title of the video.
It was nice to hear an Imam tell the truth and provide some comic relief.
I really enjoy the comments posted the way they are said.
If I think about it long enough it should make sense but I don't clearly understand the little animation next to this headline. Will someone help me?
What I want to know is, what do you use to get the smell of sulfur and brimstone out of their personal demons?
I use to know a Muslim whose breath smelled like a horses behind.
And Muzloids have the audascity to accuse pigs of being dirt unclean as Grouchy Fogie says 'pot calling kettle black'.
This imam should be whipped, for the sin of speaking against fellow mohammadans.
Hopefully I will never be close enough to get a whiff of one. Friends have told me they smell weird. Must be that tasty halal meat
As someone who used to deliver daily mail to muslimes, take it from me, AND I had the DISPLEASURE of cutting some of their hair when I worked as a barber for 3 years in the Early Eighties!……They also have DOG BREATH!!…..Thank GOD ALMIGHTY I am now retired and DO NOT and WILL NOT deal with muslimes in any capacity on a regular basis!!
Paskudni…ha, ha!
Use more sand! Ha, ha.
Mozzies smell bad because their wives don't have a legal right to say no under evil Sharia law. Women who don't submit are 'hated by the angels' because they don't satisfy their STINKY husbands.
Must be why infidels don't want mosques around. LOL
Betting thats where flies breed the most in those locations.
7th century hygiene. The truck drivers are the worst. They will use holes cut into the floors of their trucks. Many mechanics will not work on a truck owned by or driven by a muslim because of the filth under the trucks. Filthy hair and filthy beards but clean feet. This is indeed an evil cult of islam.
Pot calling the kettle black???
My gynecologist once told me how his muslim patients sometimes smell, especially those who wear the black abayas.
Bengladeshi hospitals ban them because of the germs and bacteria they carry.
Up here in Ontario, Canada, some convenience stores also serve as post offices. I try never to give Muslims my business, but when I need a post office, I don't always have a choice. Anyway, the closest Mac's store with a post office has a Muslim male working there who smells so strongly of body odour that the stench has literally made my eyes water. I am not exagegerating! I rarely have to go to the post office, it's just a few times a year, but that man has smelled terrible each time I have been in there.
I understand completely. Food basics in a part of town in Windsor is full of stinkers.
Its like they leave a trail , a cloud. Makes you sick. Same thing at Good Life Gym . The guys don't hit the showers just straight to the sauna. I leave immediately.
This true in some places. The owner of a convenience store near my home in Reno alway smelled of stale sweat. Don't know why he never bathed or used deoderant.I heard it was cultural in the middle east
Or how about not having a shower or bath in about 3 months and wiping their ass with their left hand.
Don't they use a handful of sand to wipe the back side?
There is something about 3 pebbles if I remember correctly. Sounds like a con to whip up service for whatever passed for proctologists then.
I worked in a Bangladeshi restaurant for two years – body odour and dirty, rotten teeth were the order of the day (as well as slave labour,slave wages, verbal, physical and sexual abuse of female staff/visitors and trying to intimidate me into not asking for my wages – smashing the till open with a meat cleaver then chasing 5 of those "hard men" down the street with it sorted that one!), the chefs would cough and sneeze god knows what diseases into the "food" they were cooking, go for a leak or a dump, not even bothering to wipe their dirty arses – then serve customers (leering and slobbering at the underage white girls), eat with their filthy hands and then wash their stinking feet in the same sink the food was prepared in! Muslims are pigs, but will not eat one because they are "dirty"! Disgusting people, evil religion.
no wonder people get sick when they visit these hell holes