text:
Charming Apartment + Balcony
Size40 m²
Floor No.1
- Internet/WiFi
- Balcony/terrace
- Towels
Accommodation summary
|Bissensgade, 1773 Copenhagen, Denmark
|Property type
|Property ID
|Acceptance rate
|Response time
|A few hours
|Calendar updated
There is a double bedroom and a living room with comfy corner sofa, TV and a great selection of books to browse. Guests can prepare meals in the fully equipped kitchen, the bathroom features a walk-in shower.
The area surrounding the apartment is lively, with plenty of excellent places to eat, drink and shop within a few minutes' walk. Copenhagen Zoo is a 15-minute walk from the apartment, the famous Vega concert hall can be reached on foot is 5 minutes.
Several bus stops can be found within a few minutes' walk. Using public transport, the city's iconic Tivoli Garden Theme Park is 15 minutes' away.
House rules
|Price for > 2 guests
|$ 32 CA per guest/night extra
|Check-in after
|On arrangement
|Check-in before
|On arrangement
|Check-out before
|Cancellation Policy
Reviews of this property
Very cozy house and room, silent neighborhood.
Only drawback, you have to search for a parking space outside the blue zone. up to 5 minutes walk, just Copenhagen things. ;-) 5/5
Annas apartment in Kopenhagen was very nice and clean. The interior was so lovely and comfortable and the bathroom was very ample and clean. The apartment is situated in such a lovely neighborhood. It is very quiet and beautiful, althoug it is very near to the city center: perfect.
Anna was a lovable host. Very, very friendly and the communication with her worked out perfectly.
We would love to come back to Annas apartment in Kopemhagen at any time.
Charming property in pleasant location with easy access to local transport or Walk into town .Helpful host ,who has some 'delightful ' art decor ..Allmost like a private gallery! Second level staircase was a bit steep for our heavy suitcases .
The house is pretty! A little bit away from the train station.
I suggest to specify that there is just 1 room with an extra sofa bed, at the pictures it look like 2 rooms.
Anna has a charming place on a quiet street yet close to transportation. Our room was light and airy and very nice. Anna was helpful and we had a very pleasant stay. We recommend it highly.
Very nice room in a quiet neighbourhood. Lots of nice restaurants just a few blocks from there. Within a 15 minutes stroll you'll be in the center of Copenhagen.
Anna, thanks again for your hospitality!
A really charming, well-equipped and cosy apartment. Everything was fine and Anna is a great host. A 20 min.walk brings you to the city centre. We are absolutely satisfied with our stay in beautiful Copenhagen.
Wow. This is a totally understated, hidden gem. If you are lucky enough to stay in this special sanctuary, filled with eclectic souvenirs from different cultures and travels you won't forget it quickly. Location is perfect, close to those lovely coffee shops and the main shopping St. Anna, our host is a special lady who has the best suggestions for anything art related. 10/10.
- Quality assured accommodation
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Town Square
Are PAUSD Schools Excellent?
Original post made by Working Mother of Three, Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Feb 14, 2007
Was it worth it? Every penny. I'm thankful every day that I made that decision. My kids are well adjusted, they are happy, they are doing far more and learning far more than I ever did at this age. The schools and the teachers are smart, sensitive and caring, and my kids are getting the right level of challenge for their situation. They are pushed, they are competitive, they are leaders, they are learning. My 6th grade daughter was in the 99th percentile in her writing assessment. My son was reading at the 5th grade level in 1st grade. They are getting alot of varied opportunities.
Yes, I pay extra for things like sports teams, music lessons, etc. so financially its tough for us. And the school facilities are older. But the kids are thriving. And they are happy. They have well adjusted friends whose parents have high expectations too. And they are safe. My kids are going to be prepared for college.
So, my question is - is PAUSD really an excellent school district or is it somehow smoke and mirrors - and I'm just being tricked?
I don't understand the recent rumors that some parents are contemplating breaking out of PAUSD to become a charter school. Are there really a lot of parents out there that are so unhappy with their kid's experience, that they would rather leave?
Are there that many parents out there that have enough confidence in a small charter school start up to do better than PAUSD that they're willing to give up an outstanding PAUSD education?
I'm confused. It makes me feel like I should be unhappy about PAUSD results, when in reality, I feel thrilled and thankful to be part of PAUSD and the benefits my kids are receiving here. I wouldn't trade it for all the money in the world. It feels like the best investment I've ever made.
What am I missing?
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Feb 14, 2007 at 11:49 am
Hi Working Mom,
Charter schools are opportunities for community members, teachers, and administrators to create a school, generally because the school district hasn't fulfilled their needs.
A Palo Alto charter school is not knocking PAUSD. PAUSD is great!
In fact, a Palo Alto charter school could exist within PAUSD, sharing much of the same fantastic qualities that the school district contains.
The proponents of a charter school just want one thing more than PAUSD, and that's a Mandarin immersion education. Same PAUSD standards, just in Mandarin. Just like Spanish immersion has.
The charter school doesn't have to break out from the school system, it can happily co-exist in the district with the other schools. It's allowed to have it's own curriculum and not have to conform to the school board.
If you want to know more about charter schools, there's lots of information out there. Or ask on this forum. Please make sure to not encourage fear-mongering since there's a lot of good charter schools out there.
a resident of Stanford
on Feb 14, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Charter Schools were designed to meet the needs of populations that were receiving sub-standard education from their own district. They were designed to allow parents a chance to, basically, use a voucher system of reimbursement to create their own school, in the belief they could run it better and get a better education for their kids than the District was providing.
I am a supporter of Charter schools when they are driven by this desire, the desire to break away from failing districts and create schools that allow their children to better themselves in all the core subjects and give them a better chance in the world.
IN fact, frankly, I am a supporter of vouchers, for the very reason that I believe that parents can, in fact, choose the best education for their child. However, I am a supporter of vouchers only in areas where the school district is paid on the basis of "per student" enrollment, in order to foster competition between the school district and private schools. This would mean that, regardless of where you are in a state, the same tax dollars follow you around, and you can choose to spend them where you wish.
I am not in favor of vouchers or Charter schools in districts that are recognized throughout the nation as top districts.
I am not in favor of vouchers or charter schools in a basic aid district. The financial impact is completely different.
I am not a supporter of a Charter school proposal which is driven by the desire for a school which will provide a specialty subject that is not core to the education of the rest of the children in general. If this were driven by a failing math program for the district, and parents thought that a Charter school would result in good math results, I would understand it. They would only do this if their children were not being served in what is an internationally recognized core subject.
But, this particular charter school is driven by the desire to teach children a subject that is not an internationally recognized core subject, and teach it in a particular manner to a limited number of children, which our District has decided it is not yet time for.
Before now, this subject had not risen high enough in this district's radar to address, but it seems that in the next few years this IS a subject which will be taught, in a way that all the children will have it.
I believe that the proponents of any charter school should ask themselves if they really want to keep going in this direction, or if they want to capitalize on the good they have done ( bringing this to the city's radar) and work toward bringing Mandarin to all the children who want it in our District. Face it, the proponents have done an incredible service by raising this issue to such a visible level.
I fear that to continue going this way will result in only a bigger disconnect. This is a direction which says "we don't believe our District is good enough to stay in it, and we don't believe in our election process enough to abide by spirit of the vote of our elected officials"
Of course, it is well within anyone's right to pursue a Charter School, and an understandable reaction to the feelings of betrayal there may be from this vote, but I would seriously and kindly submit that this would not be good for the community.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Feb 14, 2007 at 1:40 pm
A basic-aid district with high scores and overenrollment issues is *not* a good candidate for a charter school. It's robbing Peter to pay Paul. I hope the charter-school supporters either work for FLES for PAUSD or look to opening the charter school in a district that's not basic aid, such as Ravenswood or Mountain View.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Feb 14, 2007 at 2:26 pm
As I understand it - a charter school does for all intents and purposes completely break out of the district. They are not operated under the school districts staff, not part of their curriculum or management decisions, not part of their hiring processes or even bound by their criteria for hiring teachers - they have their own Board, their own philosphy, their own policies, their own decision making. They run their own finances, their own fund raising, and manage their own finacial health. The have responsiblity for their own performance directly to the state (but they get supervision in that performance from the chartering authority). They run themselves like a district unto themselves.
The only connection to the home district is that the home district is has review oversight of the performance of the charter, the home district gives over its share of per pupil funding for the in-district students, and the home district gives space for the in-district kids that attend the charter.
but other than that - the charter is free to do whatever it wants with curriculum, performance, quality, teacher pay, teacher selection, operations, instructional philosophy, etc.
So, from a parent's point of view - its NOTHING like being part of PAUSD. Its choosing to be part of a completely separate school district from the point of view of what the kids receive and how it gets delivered.
Are there honestly a lot of parents out there willing to separate from PAUSD in this way?
(Sure, some are willing to pay plenty for private schools, even though they bought in to expensive PAUSD neighborhoods, but most of those are well established private schools, and can prove their results with years of experience, and I bet its not a slam dunk decision even then...)
Is there anyone who is involved in the charter investigation that can tell us if there is real parent interest in this? How real is this? Is this going to be a reality for PAUSD any time soon?
a resident of Midtown
on Feb 14, 2007 at 7:14 pm
The fact you came here is evidence you belong. 99th percentiles help make it happy. The people who find education important are the people who make it work. In 30 years you will have no doubts.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Feb 14, 2007 at 8:07 pm
"I would seriously and kindly submit that this would not be good for the community."
I think I agree (though I'd like to understand the financial implications better). On the other hand, I would kindly submit that the decision to kill the MI pilot was not good for the community or MI supporters. And a charter school would be good for the MI people.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Feb 15, 2007 at 9:35 am
Opening a charter school would save PAUSD $6000 per student (Web Link). So, say they opened an MI charter school for 300 students, that would save PAUSD $1,800,000 per year. Just about the cost to implement FLES for everyone else.
Sounds like a win-win all around.
a resident of Palo Verde
on Feb 15, 2007 at 11:30 am
But wouldn't the district then be forced to reopen a school? How expensive would that be?
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Feb 15, 2007 at 12:43 pm
First of all -to Kindly - frankly I was referring to the pro-charter school community, and the effect of loss of respect they could experience by the rest of PA for trying to force their own will through non-democratic solutions, slapping democracy in the face and insinuating or schools are "failing", since that is what charter schools say. That may easily be the price some are willing to pay, though, considering how much money each family would save in private school fees. Nobody can fault that motivation.
As for cheaper for PA. I agree, it could be. At the very least there is a known control on expenses, since we pay per student, and on time spent on it, since our staff are not obliged to help in any way.
There is a legal obligation to give preference to PA residents for any charter school sponsored by PAUSD. So, assuming every kid in the charter school would then come from PA, (given that proponents have to assert this is now a core subject which has been denied them), it would be less expensive. The board that runs the charter school would have to function on much less than the rest of the schools.
Even better, put SI into the same space as MI and make it an international immersion charter school. This would make a small step toward solving one of the issues of a charter school that MI is going to have to overcome, which is the need to reflect the ethnic diversity of the sponsoring district. That will be tough, since we are such a diverse city.
And open up Escondido back to neighborhood.
The problem is placement. It will be interesting to see what happens there. If the state will allow a charter school to open with just 40 students, or even 80...out of a district of 10,000, I see modulars at Ohlone. But if it requires more numbers, I see PAUSD leasing or buying a building somewhere. If there is no space inside a district, then we have to find one as close as possible.
This would be a great boost to EPA, given one of their city council members begged our district to do this and "show them the way", so maybe EPA can provide a space. It can only be good for EPA, since they are losing students. I see it as a win-win.
I don't know how you start an immersion charter school with more than just k-1 combination classes, unless you start bringing kids in from the private schools for the upper grades. Since they won't be bound by a lottery system until they are full, they can pick and choose and fill the upper grades from the current private immersion schools.
All in all...possibly still a better solution than within PAUSD, assuming it can fill itself with PAUSD students.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Feb 15, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Charter school websites
Web Link
Web Link
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Feb 15, 2007 at 8:50 pm
To Working Mom of three: Some of my experiences are like yours. I work and sacrificed financially to have kids attend Palo Alto Schools. Unfortunately not all elementary schools in PAUSD are the same. We became very disappointed with the quality of our local schools education and in 5th grade removed our kids from PAUSD. In our elementary school the lower level kids and behavior problems received the attention. The teachers might have been very intelligent and kind, but the education I received was far superior to the education my kids were getting at PAUSD. I have met other families who left PAUSD, though we tend not to be a very vocal group. Eventually I learned from teachers/parents in other schools that my local school did not follow many of PAUSD traditional programs that had been successful in the majority of the schools. We will reenter PAUSD for high school and hope its the correct choice.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Feb 15, 2007 at 11:27 pm
There won't be a charter school at Ohlone. There would be the same issue that there was before, which is that Ohlone has a waitlist and those modular classrooms could be filled from the waitlist. You'd still be pushing the school site over its designated capacity.
And Susan Charles *would* fight that one tooth and nail. Remember, she wasn't about to let an immersion program be run separately from Ohlone. She's hardly going to let a separate school be run on Ohlone's grounds.
Trying to use the underused Ventura site, or finding some classrooms in Cubberly are more likely options. EPA's probably the way to go, though--particularly any sites west of 101.
a resident of Downtown North
on Feb 16, 2007 at 8:37 am
But wouldn't the district then be forced to reopen a school? How expensive would that be?
Yes they would have to provide space for a charter school, but from the latest board vote, this would just be bringing forward the inevitable - so opening a new school would cost no more than what it would cost anyway. Maybe this "threat" was the real reason they voted down opening a new school now.
a resident of Palo Verde
on Feb 16, 2007 at 9:30 am
Sounds like the district will have to put the charter at Garland, if the charter people get it together.
What stage is the proposal at? How long does it take to get implemented?
a resident of Palo Verde School
on Feb 16, 2007 at 9:35 am
Why can't they rent office space on Fabian and open a school there like the Jewish high school that is there at present?
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Feb 16, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Having done a little research, I'd say that the BoE won't approve an MI school. An MI charter has all the problems of an MI problem and then some. A charter school has to be open to kids outside the district, but because of PA's basic-aid status and that of Menlo Park's there won't be complete reimbursement for kids from outside the district.
In addition, getting space for a charter will cost. Modulars cost, so does terminating the lease on Garland.
If MI supporters want a charter school ASAP, they'll look next door to Mountain View or Ravenswood, which are set up for charters. If it's really about making some sort of point about MI being IN Palo Alto, it's going to be more of a haul.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Feb 16, 2007 at 5:45 pm
You're right that it will drain money for outside students, cost more for space, etc., but the BoE may not have a choice. They can't cite those reasons in turning down a charter, even if they agree with you.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Feb 16, 2007 at 7:01 pm
What are the criteria for approving/not approving a charter school? Do you have a link, preferably one that goes to that issue instead of one of those everything-charter sites?
a resident of Midtown
on Feb 16, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Web Link
Go half way down or so. It will start listing what would disqualify it. Notice that it must reflect the ethnic distribution of our district. How is this school going to attract the variety of ethnicities we have here? And the special ed component will be fun to watch happen. How many deaf kids can enter? Aspergers' kids? Mentally retarded kids? It will be tough to reflect the rest of the district.
Most of the rest of the campuses absorb some pretty disabled kids. A couple don't. It would be a pity for yet another one to be exclusive. There is a ripple effect on both sides of the camp in that one.
I have a question I can't find in here. Is there a minimum number required to start a charter school?
And, does the site the district provides have to be a site big enough for the full eventual school?
As for accepting students from outside the district, this looks pretty clear that preference has to be given to residents. If there is so much support for this, as the original MI proponents believed, then that won't be a problem. If there isn't, well...
a resident of Midtown
on Feb 16, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Thanks for chasing down this link.
It looks like the BoE can turn down a proposal for only very limited reasons (a poorly thought-out plan, etc.) Finance and district problems with siting are irrelevant. They just need to put together a proposal, get petitions signed, and they're off.
I think the majority of interest will come from non-Asians, but if not they could just fudge it with quotas at first and then phase them out once everyone forgets
Interesting that if interest exceeds space, we will have another lottery program in the district.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Feb 16, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Well, then there's that pesky little problem of customers. Who IS going to choose an experimental start up program over a PAUSD education for their kids? For example, will Hoover families feel compelled to this new Charter school, compared to Hoover? A few? Or enough to sustain a school?
And PAUSD only has to provide space -for free- for in-district kids - the charter school has to reimburse the district for space used by out of district kids. I hear Palo Alto is a high rent area...
The district can't deny due to PAUSD finances, but they can deny due to Charter School finances - it has to hold water.
And I also hear the district can not be forced to break a lease on a property it has a lease agreement on.. Garland is leased. I hear Ventura is owned by the city not the district...
I thought the idea of PAUSD renting or leasing- space in EPA for the charter school was brilliant - probably the most cost effective solution possible, and perhaps very favorable for the EPA neighborhood that would receive it.
And, I think the district probably could deny it on soundness of educational program - after all the MI proponents have failed to show any actual statistics from any model Mandarin public schools showing that what they propose is actually being done successfully - which is specifically to teach non-mandarin speakers to be biliterate in Mandarin and English at 5th grade PAUSD standards, by 5th grade. (They said they 'saw it' happening, but notice, not a shred of stats were given as to those schools they used as samples...) If the school can't show it can perform its intended function - can it be denied?
If if they can go ahead, will the parents want the concrete evidence, or will they be happy to take a gamble on their own kids' education?
And are charters allowed to test for proficiency for entrance? Or are they bound to total lottery admission? (I believe its the latter.) So how will that work for them?
It sounds flawed enough that the district probably would have grounds to deny a charter if they wanted. But they should probably just approve it and let it flop all on its own. What a shame for the kids who are going to get dragged through it all, by the "amazing" few who are pushing this on their community.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Feb 17, 2007 at 1:12 am
Thanks for the link.
PAUSD can't lease space for a charter school in EPA--it has to lease in the same county. However, the pro-MI charter folks can go directly to Ravenswood to get a charter school started.
Seems to me the total stumbling block is the student body having to represent the ethnic diversity of the community. Immersion programs aren't supposed to ever be less than 30 percent native speakers. Palo Alto isn't 30 percent Chinese. That requirement would also make it very difficult for English-speaking kids of Chinese descent to get into the program. If CLIP is any example, I think your main applicant pool would be English-speaking Chinese-American kids.
I'm not sure where, actually, you'd pull in the native-Mandarin speakers. There are fewer than a 1,000 in Palo Alto and, as my SO says, most of them are probably over 80. Okay, an exaggeration, but most of the ESL parents I know have kids who speak English first. The exceptions are families who don't plan to stay here.
One study showed that Asians were less likely than any other group to attend charter schools. I don't know if that's a reflection of an anti-charter/pro-tradition bias, or, which I think more likely, the tendency to move to good school districts that haven't needed charters.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Feb 17, 2007 at 1:18 pm
Well, that's sort of what I was thinking - if you care enough about getting in to the highest quality school district to pay virtually any price to live in Palo Alto (no matter how unreasonable), then would you move to Palo Alto and THEN choose charter school?
If you are a person who would choose charter school, then you probably haven't moved to Palo Alto for the schools. You can live anywhere and choose from lots of good charter schools. A lot of places are nice places to live, with more public services, very nice neighborhood amenities, larger houses, larger lots, with lower mortgage payments, but with somewhat less favorable school districts, but with alot of charter school options.
Are there very many Palo Alto residents who are really willing to jump over to a start up charter school?
Bullis - different story completely because those residents wanted a neighborhood elementary school in their city where there were none. That's different than choosing a charter where you have excellent neighborhood schools otherwise. (And you've paid a pretty penny specifically for the right to get in to those schools...)
Not only that, but once you get in to this charter - you're promised they'll reach an education level in English equivalent to average. That's a far cry less than the PAUSD expectation.
If I were a parent with extremely high educational expecations for my kids, and I were being promised an average education in English (with added bonus of some level of Mandarin conversational, Mandarin reading, Mandarin writing) and I knew my kids were going to be competing with PAUSD kids for spots in competitive colleges (In English!), I don't think I'd be very inclined to sign up.
I'm not getting the compelling value proposition for the parents or the kids (the customers).
Not to say no one will choose this, I just suspect it will be few. It's not going to be enough to sustain a school, perhaps not even enough for a viable start up..
If anyone has any info that says I'm off base on the realistic numbers, I'd be interested. I'm really curious about the thought process for parents who would really consider switching over to this school.
a resident of Greenmeadow
on Feb 17, 2007 at 4:26 pm
MI is the kind of proram that starts small and builds from K to 6--it doesn't just launch a full-size school all at once. My guess is that an MI charter would start very small, and would probably draw students from multiple communities. There may not even be a lottery in the first couple of years, but if the program proves itself and demand increases, you'll likely see more PAUSD families jumping ship if MI is something they value. I'm often surprised at how often people pay huge mortgages to live in PAUSD, then pay tuition for private schools, so I conclude that PAUSD is not the be-all, end-all that we like to think.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Feb 17, 2007 at 6:22 pm
One of the interesting things I came across while reading about CLIP is that a lot of the parents of native Mandarin speakers were unhappy with the program because they wanted more in English. They want their kids to be fluent in English.
So, I agree that the interest in an MI charter in Palo Alto might be smaller, smaller, certainly, than an MI program at one of the elementaries.
If most of the interest comes from outside PA, then there are some big financial issues for the charter school--the aforementioned rent issue.
Which brings us back to doing an MI charter in a district next door that's better situated for it and more likely to turn a blind eye to the fact that it's not going to reflect the demographics of the community.
a resident of Ventura
on Feb 18, 2007 at 8:00 am
Why would EPA want a mandarin charter school?
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Feb 18, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Curious, does a community need to "want" a charter school in order for there to be one there?
a resident of Midtown
on Feb 18, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Those people confused by the discussion of charter schools need to get a copy of Our School, by local authoress Joanne Jacobs to see how they can work.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Feb 18, 2007 at 1:59 pm
EPA would get money for a charter school, since they're not a basic-aid district. They want more pupils, unlike basic-aid PA, so a charter school would be a magnet.
An MI school would also be seen as a potential high performer in terms of test scores. EPA could use a strong school. So could Mountain View.
There is a chunk of middle-class families in EPA that send their kids to PAUSD via Tinsley or to private schools. I think they'd *love* a charter that was focused on high attainment.
a resident of Ventura
on Feb 18, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Lydia, does a community need to "want" a charter school? Interesting question. Let's say people in EPA want a charter school. Do you think they could ask PAUSD to give them a place for their school?
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Feb 18, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Curious, if some people in EPA wanted a charter school, could the EPA school district get(rent/buy) them a place for their school in Palo Alto or Menlo Park if no school space were available in EPA?
a resident of Ventura
on Feb 18, 2007 at 10:22 pm
Lydia, if people in EPA want a charter school and it is approved, it would be the job of their district to provide/pay for facilities regardless of location. If people in PA want a charter school, same story, PAUSD provides/pays for facilities. I don't think location matters a whole lot but there would be incentives to keep the program where it attracts more PAUSD students than outsiders. PAUSD would be incurring some of the costs for out of district students, so it's better to serve your own population.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Feb 19, 2007 at 5:04 pm
A charter school has to be in the same county as the district that holds the charter. So PAUSD can't run a charter school in EPA, it could run one in Mountain View. EPA could run one in Menlo Park, but not Palo Alto.
a resident of another community
on Feb 19, 2007 at 10:13 pm
To Mom: I was wondering if you can share more of your experiences with why you were disappointed with the quality of education of your local school and how their programs differed from other PAUSD traditional programs? Also, if parents are pulling their kids out of PAUSD for these reasons, I was wondering why the school isn't taking a more proactive stance in addressing the issues?
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Feb 22, 2007 at 12:24 am
It would take a long time to explain everything. Almost 1 year was spent discussing matters with the school Principal, Dr. Mary Francis Callahan and her staff. Very low level of expectations were prevalent in the school between grade 3-5. Teachers in upper grade did not encourage quality work. The child got the same feedback whether the work was poor or high quality. My kids learned it was easy to get away with less work because they felt no one cared. The principal implied it was 8-10year old child's fault if they were not putting in their best effort, the teacher did not have to address the issue. The principal did not see any problems with the program that accepted low quality work, it was the child's choice. Very low achievers and outspoken high achievers received most of the attention. The average "smart" kid usually missed out on a rewarding education. I volunteered in classes once a week (2-3 hours) from K-5, so I saw first hand what was going on in the classes.
Regarding programs, friends from different schools would have days were they dressed as Historical figures (biography report?), suit case presentations, and science fairs. My kids were disappointed when they realized they would not have the activities that seemed popular at other schools. Of course these activities were not necessary, but these are the special learning experiences that kids always remember. It seemed other schools had homework and tests, these were very rare at our school. In 4th grade the new math text book adopted by the district was never used. It was just another thing the staff wanted to do differently...The school experience was shocking for me, I never expected Palo Alto School district to permit such a wide range of learning "experiences" in a "standard" elementary school. I felt like I signed up for a Charter School by mistake. I think the school was "charter"-like and no staff would admit this. I was aware of some students transferring there because of the less academic atmosphere. Many neighborhood kids have opted to attend the choice schools, I was too late for that. Hope that explains a few things.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Feb 22, 2007 at 8:12 am
Barron Park or Briones?
a resident of Palo Verde
on Feb 22, 2007 at 11:27 am
Certainly not Palo Verde
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Feb 22, 2007 at 6:16 pm
"If I were a parent with extremely high educational expecations for my kids, and I were being promised an average education in English (with added bonus of some level of Mandarin conversational, Mandarin reading, Mandarin writing) and I knew my kids were going to be competing with PAUSD kids for spots in competitive colleges (In English!), I don't think I'd be very inclined to sign up."
Well, not if you go with the disinformation on this board. Immersion is not "experimental"--programs have been around for decades. Research on immersion (and on Mandarin immersion) is abundant.
If you are the type of parent who is looking for a "value proposition," who measures your kid's education in how well they do on standardized tests, then MI could be for you. The kids attending these MI programs do better at math and English than their peers, so you could count (statistically) on better scores there. Your kids could also go on to take the AP Chinese test--one more test showing the value proposition and helping them compete against PAUSD kids (in English and Chinese!) for spots in name-brand, hotsy-totsy colleges or even universities.
But if you're the kind of parent more interested in the whole child, in an international outlook, in teaching your child to interact with other cultures, in taking advantage of the language-acquisition window, then MI might also be for you.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Feb 22, 2007 at 6:21 pm
We have already established that while there is some data to support the fact that MI students may perform as better readers of English than the counterparts in an English only program, there is no data whatsoever about how they perform in writing English. So, if you want your child to be able to write a good college application essay, or even a good book report in 6th grade, then question the results before enrolling in MI.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Feb 22, 2007 at 9:36 pm
I'm not sure we've established the better reading thing--we've established that they don't seem to do worse according to Lindholm-Leary, who, unfortunately, has been a vocal supporter of MI in PA, so can't be considered an unbiased source. She may be right, but there's a lack of other sources. Meanwhile, the API scores of the local immersion schools aren't the top performers in their districts.
Or, as a bilingual friend of mine points out, if immersion programs are so amazing why don't bilingual kids do better than their peers? Other things seem to matter more. (Parents' education, expectations, etc.)
a resident of Ventura
on Feb 22, 2007 at 11:27 pm
OhlonePar: "Or, as a bilingual friend of mine points out, if immersion programs are so amazing why don't bilingual kids do better than their peers?"
Are you so sure they don't?
Here's just one of many references I found:
Web Link
key quote: "Many studies suggest that balanced bilinguals demonstrate a greater flexibility than monolinguals in their performance on different cognitive tasks. ...Recent research ... has given empirical support for linguists' statements regarding the cognitive and linguistic advantages of raising a child bilingually."
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Feb 23, 2007 at 10:25 pm
If immersion works so well, and kids who end up being bilgual via mmersion classrooms outperform their 'peers', why don't we see (for example) test results of ESL spanish speakers across the US who are in English Immersion classrooms doing better than the overall average?
I think when you see Lindholm Leary talk about outperforming peers, she is saying that ESL students who are taught in their own language and English, are outperforming their >ESL< peers who are taught only in English.
I don't think she is saying that non-english speakers taught in english outperform the total overall average, nor that english only speakers taught in a non-english language outperform the total overall average.
When she's saying "peer" she's talking about ESL kids taught in two languages (their own native language and English) outperforming ESL kids taught only English. And big surprise - when ESL kids are taught in their own language plus English (instead of English only), they do better on the uptake of English and the rest of their academics, and they like school better than their ESL peers taught only in English...
The problem is, MI in Palo Alto isn't proposed as a program to support ESL Mandarin achievement gap. We don't have one of those - not one that justifies an entire school. Perhaps in districts like San Francisco, they have a large enough achievmeent gap population to justify immersion for ESL speakers of various languages. We don't.
a resident of Palo Verde
on Feb 24, 2007 at 12:52 pm
The discussion about the academic advantage (or disadvantage) of MI reminded me that it might be helpful to distinguish between choice programs and non-choice programs when it comes to evaluation of which one is better, in terms of academic achievement.
I think that in general it is the duty of the school district to attempt and maximize the achievement of any non-choice program, as measured on the district goals. Since academics are prominently included among those goals, maximizing academic achievement, tempered by achievement on other goals, should be pursued.
The situation is philosophically different for choice programs. Since parents and children are there by their own choice, these programs do not necessarily need to attempt and maximize academic excellence, as long as they meet the minimum standards set by the state and the district. Instead, they should be free to pursue the maximization of their *choice mission*, whatever it may be.
This does not necessarily mean that choice program cannot have academics as their choice focus and try to maximize them. Hoover is an example where academics is such focus of choice. Yet Ohlone is an opposite example where academics in themselves are not the focus of choice, and I don't think Ohlone should attempt to maximize its academic achievement, as long as it maintains at least the minimum expected by PAUSD and the state. Both models are acceptable for choice programs.
Coming back to the *choice* immersion programs, whether MI or SI, I think it is wrong to attempt and assess them based on the academic advantage of the immersion model. I think their objective is to promote foreign language (and culture) acquisition, and that should be the key criterion for their assessment. The concern whether immersion also maximizes academics in general should be of secondary importance, as long as it does not *heavily* detract from them.
This is different for FLES. Since FLES is proposed as a mandatory program, the discussion whether it promotes the overall academic achievement of students is appropriate.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Feb 24, 2007 at 4:33 pm
"If immersion works so well, and kids who end up being bilgual via mmersion classrooms outperform their 'peers', why don't we see (for example) test results of ESL spanish speakers across the US who are in English Immersion classrooms doing better than the overall average?"
ESL is not dual immersion. Entirely different beasts.
"I think when you see Lindholm Leary talk about outperforming peers, she is saying that ESL students who are taught in their own language and English, are outperforming their >ESL< peers who are taught only in English."
No, "peers" means the average of children in the same grade across the same district, whether ESL or not.
"I don't think she is saying that non-english speakers taught in english outperform the total overall average, nor that english only speakers taught in a non-english language outperform the total overall average."
That's exactly what she IS saying. Non-English speakers (immersion) and English speakers (immersion) BOTH outperform English-only speakers in district in English.
It's odd that you ask for information, hard data, but then when it's supplied, you take potshots by calling into question the neutrality of the researcher, the meaning of defined terms or simply fabricate potential objections (maybe writing skills will lag, etc.).
There is a large body of evidence for immersion programs that go back decades and exist in many countries. You may not like immersion for your child or MI in Palo Alto, but these programs are proven, not remotely experimental. The "feasibility study" was a fig leaf for the board--anyone with serious interest knew the outcome in advance because of all the data: of course it's feasible. By asking the MI folks to pay for a study, the board members bought themselves time to test the winds. Then they caved to the threats of the anti-MI crowd.
None of this relates to the actual benefits of MI, which are proven.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hef's Movie Notes: Anatomy of a Murder
Jealousy, betrayal and murder: Tonight at the Playboy Mansion Hef introduces one of the finest trial films ever made.
Tonight: James Stewart, with Lee Remick and Ben Gazzara, Arthur O'Connell, Eve Arden, Kathryn Grant and George C. Scott in Otto Preminger's crime classic Anatomy of a Murder.
Austrian-born Preminger established his reputation as a producer-director with the film-noir mystery Laura (1944).
In the 1950s, he played a major role in putting an end to film censorship in Hollywood by releasing his first independent picture, The Moon Is Blue, in 1953, without Production Code approval.
Six years later, he courted the censors' wrath again with The Man With the Golden Arm—dealing with the previously taboo subject of drug addiction.
But it was Anatomy of a Murder in 1959 that caused the greatest controversy. It was a true story that dealt with adultery, revenge, rape and murder in a manner not seen on screen before.
Explicit references to "panties," "intercourse," "birth control," "contraception" and "rape" made the movie unacceptable in Mayor Richard Daley's Catholic Chicago.
And when Preminger refused to delete these references, the Chicago Censor Board—one of the last local censor boards in America—refused to give the film a permit required for exhibition in my hometown.
Luckily, a federal judge ruled in favor of the film and it was shown uncut.
Anatomy of a Murder was written by Robert Traver—a pen name for John D. Voelker, a Michigan Supreme Court Justice.
The only fictional character in the film is James Stewart's sidekick, played by O'Connell.
Producers Eliot Hyman and Ray Stark bought the screen rights for $150,000 in October 1957.
The book was a best seller—having sold three million copies at the time.
Stewart made Anatomy of a Murder immediately after completing Hitchcock's Vertigo and Bell, Book and Candle—both with Kim Novak.
Lana Turner was supposed to play the female lead—the wife of Ben Gazzara. But she proved too difficult to work with and Preminger replaced her with Lee Remick.
Remick had already been cast in another role in the picture—and that part was given to Kathryn Grant.
Grant had just married Bing Crosby and she would retire from films to raise a family after just one more picture.
This was George C. Scott's second film, made immediately after The Hanging Tree with Gary Cooper the same year. He followed his performance in Anatomy with his most memorable role in The Hustler.
Spencer Tracy and Burl Ives both turned down the judge's role that went to real judge Joseph N. Welch, famous for having destroyed the credibility of Senator Joseph McCarthy during the Army—McCarthy Hearings in 1954 by simply saying, "At last, sir, have you no decency?"
Duke Ellington has a small part in the film and provided the musical score.
The film deserves high marks for authenticity. Real locations were used, and we see the actual crime site. Further: The bullet hole in the bar came from the real murder. And: The actual courtroom was used in Marquette, Michigan.
The film began shooting on March 23 and wrapped May 15, 1959.
It premiered just six weeks later—on July 1, at the United Artists Theater in Detroit. The Hollywood Reporter stated: "Surefire entertainment. Tops the novel. The public seems sure to bring in a triumphant box office verdict in favor of Anatomy. Dialogue is frankly more graphic than any the screen has hitherto recorded."
Variety agreed: "Beguiling, forceful, enthralling, adult, complex, confounding, laced with humor and human touches." Scenes contain language never before heard in an American film with the Code seal."
The film was nominated for seven Oscars—Best Picture, Best Actor for Jimmy Stewart, Best Supporting Actor for Arthur O'Connell and George C. Scott, Best Screenplay, Best Editing and Best Cinematography.
Unfortunately, Ben Hur swept the Oscars that year, including an Academy Award to Charlton Heston for Best Actor. Go figure!
And now, from 1959, Anatomy of a Murder.


text:
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Of all the beauty minefields out there, visible pores are one of the trickiest to dodge. Foundation alone doesn't do the trick, which is why we turn to this translucent balm to shrink the appearance of our pores. The silky, oil-free formula diffuses pores and fine lines for an airbrushed finish, and it goes on sheer, leaving skin smoother and more even. We can use it as a primer in the mornings or as a touch-up treatment throughout the day. Perfect T-zone, here we come.


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Hardware Podcast 5 - Core i5 and i7, Radeon HD 5870
Posted on 24th Sep 2009 at 17:32 by Podcast with 12 comments
The fifth (or first) Hardware Podcast sees the chaps talk about Intel's Core i5 and i7 LGA1156 processors and they're stupid naming convention. And discuss why maybe it won't seem so stupid in a few month's time. Also up for debate is the HD 5870, the Asus Mars graphics card and Nvidia's odd drivers.


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"The truth is that right after 9-11 I had a pin. Shortly after 9-11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security.I liked that statement. The truth is, after 9-11, my wife and I were swept up in rallies with flags, people running down the street shouting USA, and all that. But patriotism is more than a flag, and more than a pin. But the right-wing media started harping on it, as though not wearing the lapel pin was a sin. Remember being a kid and the response you'd get if you didn't wear green on St. Patrick's Day? Please.
Bill said:
"No lapel pin, Senator? It's like not wearing pants. Why don't you just stab the Statue of Liberty in the eye while bitch-slapping a 9/11 widow?" Another in a series of bullsh*t non-stories that have zero effect on the troops, the war or anything in the real world -- or, as Fox calls it, "Breaking News."Not Fox News, Faux News, as I like to call them.
And more:
Of course, the Republicans are the party of Mark Foley and the Rev. Ted Haggard and Larry Craig and countless other closeted homosexuals, so their fixation on jewelry is understandable, but still ... the flag is just a symbol. You're getting pissy about a brooch, you drama queens, one that was probably made in China. It's probably leaking poison lead on you right now.Let's call this kerfuffle "Lapelgate." I hope voters aren't so ignorant --- or disinterested --- of the real issues --- that they vote based on wearing a piece of jewelry.
At least that would be some sacrifice, because let's be honest: this generation doesn't do real sacrifice or even pay for our own wars. That's what grandkids are for! No, we do flag pins and bumper stickers. And not even bumper stickers. Bumper magnets. Because stickers are tough to get off, and we may change our mind about never forgetting.
When I see the little flag right here, the first thing I think is, you voted for, and still like, George Bush, the man who has gotten more troops unnecessarily killed and maimed by failing to plan for their mission, by pushing their units to the breaking point, by letting his corporate enablers like Halliburton, Bechtel and Blackwater rape and pillage not just the Iraqis, but our own army.
Watch the whole video. Note the piece on Obama is the last part of New Rules.


text:
A Study of the Safety and Efficacy of MK-0431A in Pediatric Participants With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (MK-0431A-170)
This study is currently recruiting participants. (see Contacts and Locations)
Verified March 2017 by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: November 11, 2011
Last updated: March 14, 2017
Last verified: March 2017
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
No Study Results Posted on ClinicalTrials.gov for this Study
|Study Status:
|This study is currently recruiting participants.
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|September 2018
|Estimated Primary Completion Date:
|September 2018 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)


text:
Jamie Joseph Bracelets Alberto Fermani
Whether you prefer the black or brown version of this boot, you'll get unbelievable, like-no-other style for your legs. I love the fluid leather inserts--so unusual. And because this baby is handmade by Cydwoq, you know your feet are going to be singing a happy song all day.
I want this boot so badly, but, alas Ped is out of my size. It has my name written on it from its deceptively simple but kickass design to the oiled grey suede. It's a tall boot made for walking and drawing attention!
How chic and cool and ready to bring admirers flocking and wanting to be your best friends! This boot is just too cool--lovely and ready to make any outfit look that much more beautiful. The color is anywhere, anytime in its neutrality. Love.
It would be impossible to put on this peep-toe and not look like a million bucks. It screams glamour and sophistication. "Darling, would please freshen my drink? Yes, quit drooling--I know my shoes are beautiful."
This ankle boot is ridiculously sexy! I love the tie in the back and how the toe seems to be naughtily peeping out. I want, I want. Coclico always designs such an interesting shoe!
This is a boot that you can wear in any weather and still look like you've got your fashion sense intact. It's so funky and fun.
I like the cowgirl aesthetic, but sometimes I wish it looked a little more urban. Giraudon to the rescue. How fab is this cognac ankle boot? FAB!
It's hard to beat a clean, lean tall boot in a beautiful brown leather. It goes with everything and looks chic on almost any occasion. This Giraudon boot is one I could wear everyday and everywhere.
Super cute little t-strap Mary Jane--give me gold leather any day, especially when it's used so artistically in the body of the shoe. Sweet.


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Now maybe if you really want to practice benign beekeeping you will simply give me all of your bees. From where I sit, the only way to be a benign beekeeper is to not tend to any bees, don't move them, don't have anymore than one per every ten acres, and keep them up in a tree 10 to 15 feet off of the ground, facing S or SSE, and don't ever work them.
Mark Berninghausen
About 5 years ago I responded to a craigslist post wherein a man was giving away all his boxes and frames. I brought them home with the intention of one day taking the equipment to the county (I'm in the big city). I stacked the equipment in 4 stacks in my backyard and forgot about them. Several years later I took a look and found that I had bees in all 4 stacks.
At this point I was still not ready to move the equipment to the country and the city did not allow beekeeping, so I just let them 'do their thing'.
Jan 2011 the city passed an ordinance allowing 2 hives. In late spring the city code enforcement guy came around and told me to get those bees registered and legal. So I became a beekeeper. Being required to reduce the number of hives to 2 I gave 2 to my neighbor. We moved 2 of the stacks to his house and I began actually taking care of my 2.
When I opened the hives for the first time, I found some comb that was messed up the the majority was built onto the frames that were in the boxes.
These bees were doing just fine without any help. They have been through some trauma since I intervened, but have bounced back and are again doing fine.
Were they better off before me? I can't say, but do know that before I took a hand in their lives, they had more honey they could keep.
Thus far I have not done anything to or for them other than try to give them the space I think they need. When I did the last mite drop I counted 3.
Buzz Abbott
USDA zone 11a, Western Garden zone 24 (75 ft elev. n34.0w118.47)
I begin with the basic premise that comparing bees from an apiary with feral bees is like comparing a dog with a wolf. This difference if it exists would be solely the result of man keeping bees.
The above point does bring into the frame the issue of "Are bees domesticated"? In past conversations that I have seen on this subject directly. It is fairly well argued that they are not. Yet very few beekeepers would hesitate to admit bees do not stand much of a chance of survival if you don't care for them. If domestication is defined as an animals dependance on mans care. then it is hard to argue that bees have not become domesticated. Not all bees any more than all Canine have become domesticated.
In addition I believe that mans intervention has drastically altered the life of the honey bee. and in doing so has impacted the well being of the honey be. IT is very unlikely that man with his intentions has impacted the be in a positive way. We consider excess honey production a good thing. since we think it is good. we also tend to think it is good for the bees. it is not. it is a complete removal and unintentional behavior from what a honey bee should be. It is inefficient which that alone is a radical departure from any other behavior associated with bees.
This and many other differences keeping bees makes are not only significant. they are most likely harmful to the bees. I cannot even begin to make a complete list of impacts. but here are a few. many of which have already been mentioned.
Interruption of the hive. not only frequently or not frequently. but at all ever. This introduces conditions and stresses that the bees are in no way naturally equipped for. In nature colonies that get invaded are killed. It is the result of poor colony location skills and is eliminated by natures selection process.
Limited genetic pool. This one is probably fr more devastating than it is given credit for.
Frequent replacement of queens. Tampering with an already poor genetic pool.
Selection of traits that we consider beneficial, and even worse making the mistake of thinking what we consider beneficial is good for the bees. This then lends to the likelihood that beekeepers will breed their bees straight into the jaws of disaster, eyes wide open, thinking all is well.
I have seen it mentioned in several places that bees will naturally select a cavity roughly the size of a 10 frame deep. In reality bees seldom get to choose optimum anything. In fact always having the optimum woudl be a negative. a huge negative. natural selection thrives on diversity. Colonies that range anywhere from baseball size cavities to small sheds is what makes mother natures way work out. that man is locked into the best way to do anything, always, is one of the primary reasons he impacts everything around him negatively. Nature does not have maximization as a goal. never has. Survival in as many various conditions as possible. and it will try them all. Most will fail.
Nature created the AHB. And we think she got it wrong. nearly completely and utterly wrong.
We on the other hand strive to make puppy dogs of the honey bee. Necessary. yes for our purposes. but int eh process we have caused a lot of damage. we have caused a highly dependent bee. and we cannot like our dogs. pen them in and protect them from an environment they are no longer suitable to survive in. It would be comparable turning your dog loose to run with wolves. But to some degree I think that is exactly what we have done. We breed dogs that must run with wolves. We are seeing the results.
Bees that cannot resist parasites that infest them.
bees that cannot survive diseases that they are subjected to.
Bees that cannot survive winter.
Bees that do not take optimal advantage of their environment.
On the issue of an apiary and colonies that are located to close together. I tend to look at them as a single mega colony with multiple queens. What sort of impact is that having. Sort of like subjecting bees to living in projects. A getto evolves. Still necessary.
I don't think beekeepers should stop keeping bees any more than I think people should stop keeping dogs as pets. But I do think that beekeepers need to be far more clear in just what they are keeping, and what is necessary for it's care. If feeding and treatment are necessary. then that is the result of making dogs out of wolves.
Everything gets darker, as it goes to where there is less light. Darrel Tank (5PM drawing instructor)
That was a case of moving a hive permanently, whereas most commercial beekeepers to my knowledge stay in the same places at the same times of the year.
"People will generally accept facts as truth only if the facts agree with what they already believe."- Andy Rooney
>>Cold starvation. The cluster gets too cold to move and starves on the comb. Plenty of honey, no sign of disease or mites.
As long as the hive is in good shape, I have never had a hive die of starvation with honey in the hive. I have had lots of hive die of starvation within inches of honey but they were destined for death anyway. A good hive doesnt starve with honey in the hive.
Sol: You do understand that "cold starvation" is a result and not an actual malady dont you? Its pretty hard to say four years removed from the fact what actually caused the death of your hives. Wait a minute.....something is coming into view in my crystal ball........yes, yes! I see small clusters..... I think their are five of them. They appear to be very small, yes very small clusters, looking closer..... trying to figure out what the problem might have been.......poof! Darn it!!!! It just went black on me. Ah well! Probably varroa.
"People will generally accept facts as truth only if the facts agree with what they already believe."- Andy Rooney
I have had hives starve on hard honey also, yet the hive right besides were fine. The difference was the hive that starved on the hard honey had issues, the hive that lived beside them went in looking good
Ian, I would put it this way: Good hives don't die. That's perhaps the cornerstone of my philosophy.
Ultimately, it doesn't matter why they die, unless I caused it, therefore I don't waste time on mite counts and such. It's their responsibility to stay alive, mine is to keep from killing them.
Last edited by Solomon Parker; 11-16-2012 at 10:23 AM.
I always get a kick out of beekeepers claiming hive death to "they starved inches away from the honey!" Unless those hives have been exposed to the depths of winter for weeks on end, they did not starve because they couldnt reach the honey, they were not in shape to winter at all!
I've always ran 9 frames in my brood chamber, gives me more space to work and I feel like it's less likely I'll squish her majesty.
In this case I'm increasing the bee space from how the hive originally built the comb which I'm sure changes how the brood is heated and cooled.
I would love to hear an alternate explanation rather than just chuckling.
Mark Berninghausen


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Name's Justin. I've been lurking here since December and I think I'm about to take the plunge and start some armour. I'm going to start with the helmet, since that seems like one of the most intense parts and I'd like to get it out of the way.
Been thinking on what exactly I want to do and I've been leaning toward Boba, though my mind just did a 180 on me and started thinking about Jango... Probably needs more thought, eh?


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The period in a male's life, typically between age of 27-39 when he succumbs to republican ideology. Signs of repuberty include listening to talk radio, unprompted remarks about social programs such as welfare, professing a love for rich people and low taxes, ranking of other people's patriotism levels.
He didn't listen to Glenn Beck until he hit Repuberty.
Alfred suffered from early Repuberty after he was mugged.
Alfred suffered from early Repuberty after he was mugged.
by gravybt June 30, 2011
The vengeful act of crapping on a lover's chest while they sleep.Buy the plush


text:
Town Square
Big bike rides exacerbate cyclist/motorist tensions
Original post made by Renee Batti, associate editor of The Almanac, on Jan 2, 2007
I am appalled at Brian Peterson's piece printed in the Dec. 13 Almanac. He devotes paragraph after paragraph to defending his cycling club from blame, trying to paint Ms. Baglietto in a bad light for noting that the water bottle said Alto Velo on it.
Who cares whether or not it was one of the club members? It was a cyclist, and someone was hurt by a deliberate act. For some reason nobody seems to note that the water bottle was thrown hard enough to hit someone on the side of the road in the face, and it was, apparently, intended to hit a car. Is that somehow better than hitting a woman in the face? Is it fine to throw a water bottle at a car in anger?
Had it been a rock thrown by an inner-city teenager, somebody would probably be in jail right now. Had it been a bullet, even one shot in self-defense, would the innocent bystander be to blame?
I note John Higgins' letter in the same issue that says, "I'll prove it to you: ride your bike." Though the point is good, it misses the fact that most motorists don't hassle bicyclists, particularly those that are riding safely.
The cyclist/motorist tension has been growing in Portola Valley and the riders are defiant, not looking for a solution so much as making sure to take their rights directly into the middle of the road to make sure the point is made. Guess what? That irritates motorists, who then do something unsafe to make their point.
The problem is pretty localized to these morning rides and packs of cyclists, and the cars among which they ride. The point that is being missed is that these are the same motorists, and the same cyclists, day after day, and it's more like a playground fight than it is any deep-seated cultural problem.
I know that these letters from cyclists are written to try to underscore the very real problem that cyclists get harassed by drivers. Unfortunately, even though my sympathies are with cyclists more than motorists, the elitist, self-righteous "morning ride" crowd does more disservice to the sport than anything else.
It's hard to feel badly for poor Mr. Peterson who seems upset that someone should blame his group for an act committed by someone he and his cyclists just happened to be riding with, and probably knows by name. Somehow my sympathies are not with cyclists, but with Ms. Baglietto, the innocent bystander.
If only Mr. Peterson had ended his letter with his first sentence, where I was congratulating him in my mind, rather than being defensive and ending by demanding an apology from a 62-year-old woman who was hit in the face by a water bottle. Good grief. Maybe the Alto Velo club should boycott the morning ride to show that you do not condone such actions.
Glenn Reid
a resident of another community
on Jan 3, 2007 at 6:12 am
This is a "community policing" problem. For the life of me, I can't figure out why the San Mateo County Sheriff hasn't taken a lead role in solving this issue.
Did the original victim report the assault with a deadly weapon (full water bottle to the head at 20+ MPH)? If so, it should have been pursued and the suspect held to account for his crime. Apparently, there were more than a few witnesses.
And, even if that crime was not reported, the Sheriff and / or CHP should get on top of this issue. There may be some confusion over jurisdiction. The CHP enforces vehicle code violations in the unincorporated areas. The Portola Valley and Woodside City Councils could invite both organizations' leaders to their next meeting to speak about their plans to fix this problem.
I'm not sure where the answer lies, but one solution is clearly a zero tolerance enforcement of the vehicle code upon bicyclists and vehicles who choose to ignore the law. I would flood the area with a task force of CHP and Sheriff Office patrol vehicles and start writing citations. Lots of them.
a resident of Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park
on Jan 3, 2007 at 4:54 pm
I've heard that cyclists in a large group will intentionally wear similarly colored clothes so that cops following them will have trouble identifying which one went through a stop sign or whatever.
If this is true, it would only reinforce the outlaw sensibility that cyclists seem to adopt when in large groups. It's not as if they are out to break laws that might end up endangering others, but that they are above the law.
A school of fish or flock of birds might be said to have whimsy in the choice of where to go next. Maybe that behavior is latent in us and shows up when a group of people ride bikes together.
a resident of another community
on Jan 4, 2007 at 5:37 am
Bicyclists coordinating their efforts to break the law by dressing uniformly to prevent identification is also a crime -- conspiracy -- though I doubt the District Attorney would charge.
You bring up a good point. In addition to the obvious Vehicle Code violations, there are other less known laws that could be put into play:
If the officer has reason to believe that the person will continue to break the law despite the agreement to appear (also known as a citation), he can take the person to jail.
Bicyclists have been known to lie about their name, address, etc. Pedestrians do this too. They don't have to carry driver licenses. Providing false information to an Officer is a misdemeanor. The officer can book a person into jail if a person commits a misdemeanor in his presence.
If the officer can not adequately establish the person's identity, then suspect can be taken to jail until such time as the true identity can be determined.
In my opinion, it's time to be "hard nosed" until the people in the community - bicyclists, drivers, and pedestrians - get the message that they must obey the law. That would certainly include some citations, but it might also include free rides to the County Jail ...
a resident of Portola Valley: Woodside Highlands
on Jan 9, 2007 at 4:35 pm
I'm planning on traveling to San Francisco with my family next month for the 2nd Amgen Tour of California Professional Cycling Race. In one of my tour books, Woodside is touted as a wonderful place to ride, and so I decided to go on-line to find out more about beautiful Woodside's country roads. What I found instead is a recounting of some of the worst behavior by both cyclists and motorists anywhere in the world, who appear to be getting further away from getting along rather than closer to learning to share the roads.
The behavior by the rider with the Alto Velo club is reprehensible and the injured woman should press charges and demand an investigation. Throwing a water bottle and causing an injury, even though intended for an automobile, is inexcusable behavior. I say this not only as a physician who treats brain injury and a father of two small children (what if we had been riding by with a window open and my child had been struck by the bottle?), but as an experienced road cyclist and racer, who rides for a team and holds a license with USA Cycling. I have also treated professional cyclists who have suffered injuries due to driver negligence.
I also wear my team jersey, which in no way has anything to do with trying to hide my identity or avoid taking responsibility for my actions on a bicycle. No, indeed, that jersey means I am a representative of a team, a group that holds the highest respect for others who share a very dangerous place: the roads.
Now, while I agree that it is usually motorists who are unaware of cyclists and that it is cyclists who are usually the injured party in motorist-cyclist interactions, the behavior of this Alto Velo club member means he or she should be punished. That rider shouldn't be too hard to find. If there are witnesses, and teammates, then the entire team can be subpoenaed until the culprit comes clean. That rider's license with USA Cycling (and s/he likely has one) could be revoked. Membership in USA Cycling is a privilege, not a right. There are not only rules for behavior during races (see pp. 34-5 of the USA Cycling Rulebook: Web Link), but general rules of conduct also exist. I am sure that if the rider is in college or university, the college also has rules. And the rules of the club should also be enforced. But in addition to all that, Woodside has law enforcement at the county level that should be enforcing its rules. It is up to the victim of the incident to pursue this. I hope she does.
All that said, I know most cyclists are law-abiding, road-sharing, pleasant, friendly and healthy people. Woodside should not allow itslef to paint the cycling community with a broad brush. There are likely as many good cyclists as there are good motorists and good residents of Woodside.
I encourage you to do what we do here on Cape Cod, where more than once tensions have arisen between local slow-moving Cape Codders and fast-paced New York drivers have come head-to-head: slow down, take a breath, and share the road. Motorists have no more rights to the roads than do cyclists, and cyclists have no more rights to the roads than motorists. Motorists would do well to EXPECT riders on bicycles WHEREVER they drive, especially in known cycling communities. Cyclists would do well to ride single-file in a paceline and not hog the roads, as they likely do all over the hills of Woodside, Pescadero, San Gregorio, and other places I would like to see once before I die.
My vacation is short. I only get one week per year. I do not want to die, just when I've lost enough weight to start saying I'm healthy and can actually ride a bike 100 miles! Woodside is, and likely will remain, a major destination of road cyclists. Sharing is easy. It's EASY. Both cyclists and motorists have to begin truly sharing right now! But criminal behavior like throwing a bottle and injuring someone is appalling and must not be tolerated! Actions like that can end up in serious head injury or death!
a resident of Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park
on Jan 9, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Important point: the rider who threw the bottle and hit the pedestrian in the face was not a member of the Alto Velo club, though they know who he is.
That rider has also apparently called the woman and apologized. I think she may have decided not to press charges.
a resident of another community
on Jan 9, 2007 at 4:44 pm
I accidentally clicked the wrong neighborhood on the drop-down menu. I'm from Massachusetts.
a resident of another community
on Jan 9, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Glad to hear that people can work things out between themselves. That rider should kiss the ground that injured woman walks on. This ought to be a big wake-up call for the community. It's single file on narrow roads for cyclists. Paceline training is a good skill, and you can go fast enough for narrow roads. As for motorists, they simply have to expect a cyclist at every turn. It's easy. SHARE! There, I've said enough.


text:
A kind, gentle and loving man to everyone. He would be patient with others, good with all. There is a serenity, or calmness about him, no moodiness, or tempers flaring. This person cares deeply and shows this by the strong embrace or hug when greeting or saying goodbye to a friend. The perfect person is not judgemental or patronizing, but genuine in relationships with everyone. They love unconditionally each and every person and have no ill feelings towards anyone. This is a rare person, there are not many out there, but there are a few who are pure in heart and honestly close to perfection... I know a few... and the one man who was born on this earth that was completely perfect in all things was Jesus Christ. We should become more like him. An Avanura is perfection to the human eye. This person has it all. The works.
by le fangirl January 09, 2013
The vengeful act of crapping on a lover's chest while they sleep.Buy the plush