text:
Town Square
Time To Move On From MI Or Face A Backlash??
Original post made by JJ, Old Palo Alto, on Oct 11, 2007
With that in mind, I ask a simple question:
Given that such continued intense focus put forth by a relatively few core individuals will consume a significant amount of time - both of the Board and school administration - at the expense of other issues, is that really what the "people" as a whole want (and not just the hardcore MI opponents)?
Intuitively, one would have to say no - because those with middle or high school aged children likely don't (they have their own issues they'd like to see addressed) and - given the intense debate - one might reasonably expect those with elementary school children to be at least split down the middle.
Thus, I would expect that continued intense flogging of MI by the "usual suspects" will ultimately result in a public backlash against them. It seems to me that many people have already turned a deaf ear to them, being tired of this issue and wanting to move on to other (quite frankly, more important) things, myself included.
a resident of Midtown
on Oct 11, 2007 at 11:03 pm
JJ, I don't have a big bone to pick in the MI debate and don't have a strong opinion. End of the day, it is a small program (at least today).
But I think you're wrong to think it is just over and done. The process was so flawed and the result so generally at odds with what a lot of people (a majority) would have chosen - it seems like to be a flashpoint for a while to come.
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Oct 12, 2007 at 9:58 am
There is the same logic behind MI as behind Spanish immersion. These are major languages; we are fortunate to have bilingual members of the community to give these children continual practice in the use of the language; there is supplemental funding available.
The schools need more classrooms. This should have been revealed long ago; the school board caused unnecessary harm by linking this shortage to MI.
The school district has had many problems. I don't think "the process" is the problem; in MI or elsewhere. The school board is simply not prepared to handle the increase in student population that the City Council is sending it by upzoning residential development.
a resident of Midtown
on Oct 12, 2007 at 10:17 am
Carol, if you don't think the handling of the MI issue exposed serious issues with the school board and the former Super, I'm not sure what to say. I would think any reasonable person (including all those involved) would be embarrassed by the way the whole thing went down - and for the most part, I think they were. Sure, facility space is a big issue - but this was a fiasco and undermined confidence in the School Board and contributed to the "retirement" of the Super.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Oct 12, 2007 at 10:36 am
I think you are wrong about what you say. The trouble with MI is that it is a double edged sword. If the original vote had been in favor I think a lot of people would have let it lie. But, because how it was treated By the supporters, how they managed to get the board to change its mind, the problem is no longer the original problem. I am certainly one of those who were against MI and if the original vote had been in favor, I would have let go. However, I don't like what has happened since. It is now no longer the original issues against MI that concerns me. What does concern me is that we have a BoE who can be manipulated. That is what is fundamentally wrong now and if one group can do it, others will try. It is no longer about MI as far as I am concerned. It is about the weaknesses the BoE have shown and their lack of foresight in what is going to happen to it in the future.
MI is a done deal for August 2008. What is still an issue on the MI front is the future of the program, the grant and how it will be spent and the weakness of the BoE in its decision making. This is a completely different kettle of fish to my original concerns.
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Oct 12, 2007 at 1:31 pm
I would agree with you, except that I had already lost all confidence in the school board, and thought they were lucky to be offered MI. Those last two bond campaigns turned me away from supporting this district. I contribute to two others instead.
With the residential increases already approved, the district will be lucky to have any special programs that don't come with their own funding.
The City Council has made its intentions on upzoning very clear, for a very long time, and the schools have no choice but to adapt.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Oct 12, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Hmmm, we're in the middle of election season and about to vote on the school board. The MI decision was made just a few months ago.
But discussing the school board's decisions will create "backlash"?
No, actually what I think you're dealing with is the backlash to PACE's and the school board's reactions.
If people don't want to read about the MI debacle, they don't have to read these threads. So, I'm not worried about overexposure.
Also, out in the real world, I've seen no sign of an anti- anti-MI backlash, more like lots of people who want a chance to finally make their voices heard.
Frankly, I don't think I've ever seen so many signs in so many yards over a school board election.
Backlash to a backlash? Sounds like wishful thinking on your part--conveniently timed to quell debate three weeks before an election.
ANd, of course, how many years and how many board meetings were wasted on MI because PACE wouldn't let it go?
Hell, we're just getting started.
a resident of Adobe-Meadow
on Oct 12, 2007 at 3:52 pm
It is clear from the continued postings here threatening to oppose the War in Iraq seemingly "till kingdom come," including by closely monitoring and seizing upon any perceived misstep or shortcoming in its implementation, that at least for some people, this issue has become their cause célèbre.
With that in mind, I ask a simple question:
Given that such continued intense focus put forth by a relatively few core individuals will consume a significant amount of time - both of the Military and Government administration - at the expense of other issues, is that really what the "people" as a whole want (and not just the hardcore War in Iraq opponents)?
Intuitively, one would have to say no - because those without interests in Iraq likely don't (they have their own issues they'd like to see addressed) and - given the intense debate - one might reasonably expect those with interests in Iraq to be at least split down the middle.
Thus, I would expect that continued intense flogging of the War in Iraq by the "usual suspects" will ultimately result in a public backlash against them. It seems to me that many people have already turned a deaf ear to them, being tired of this issue and wanting to move on to other (quite frankly, more important) things, myself included.
<Now do you understand?>
a resident of Midtown
on Oct 12, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Those who flog the "war in Iraq" have lost credbility because they are wrong, and have been proven wrong, and pretty much everyone understands the cost of "pulling out now", which is what they want.
The difference with MI is that I don't hear more than a couple people saying "pull out of MI now" ( yes there are a couple)...
I mainly hear people saying ( online and at the schools) "how can we keep MI contained, and how can we prevent the whole split from happening again?"
Honestly, if most "get out of Iraq now" folks were instead saying "How can we prevent another war" I would be much more likely to listen. I hope that the Board is listening to this...
a resident of Midtown
on Oct 12, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Or even if they were saying, "how can we win as quickly as we can so we can get out honorably without leaving behind a mess?" I would listen more!
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Oct 12, 2007 at 5:44 pm
They're listening because a lot of people read these threads--not the whole thing, but they drop in. And that influences what happens offline.
Fatique is easy to monitor online--the posting drops off.
I wouldn't assume, by the way, that the core group is that small. I'm completely inactive in offline politics. I don't even have a sign in my yard. I'm not on PAEE's mail list. There are some regular voices, but also a lot of people who come in and out.
Unlike PACE, there's never really been a core opposition. It's diffuse and people are bothered by different things. A fair number couldn't care less about what happens at Ohlone, but they do care about who controls the school district. It's the charter aspect more than anything that's giving this thing legs. That and the future of school bonds.
I can't say I quite place this at the level of anti-war activism, though.<g>
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Oct 12, 2007 at 6:00 pm
I think its easy to throw out diversionary tactics like 'blame the victim for flogging the assailants who are attempting to create a coup in our district, and throwing out unsubstantiated assumptions with no basis in reality on the ground - like the elementary population is 'split' on the matter. (In my experience, discussion on the campus after school, people come up to me, etc - the exact opposite is true. People are overwhelmingly pissed off, and disgusted.)
I think you couldn't be more wrong, and I think any of the candidates, Board memebers, or our current Supertinedent who are making this assumption are about to find out how wrong they are.
How about we stop the speculation and guessing where the community stands on this, and just take a real survey? Lets all just put our money where our mouths are - shall we? Lets have a survey of all parents in the district, plus tax payers, and if I'm wrong, I'll shut up about MI. If JJs wrong, we'll just shut down MI. What say you JJ? Willing to play?
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Oct 12, 2007 at 11:53 pm
Wow - OhlonePar, Parent and Terry (i.e., THE USUAL SUSPECTS) are the only ones who responded in the negative to my posting.
Me thinks you three might just want to look behind you - that backlash wave is closer than it appears in your rearview mirror!
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Oct 13, 2007 at 12:18 am
Of course, because the notion of a backlash is a nonissue.
If it were a real issue then someone should be posting to agree with you. Instead you got one person saying she didn't like the board from before.
Terry's not a usual suspect, by the way.
Okay, next transparent tactic?
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Oct 13, 2007 at 12:32 am
Nope. It was a little tongue-in-cheek. And, of course, it was a big topic without me.
It was actually my way of pointing that out.
Sort of the way the 4,800-plus views on this thread, which is largely about the ramifications of the MI debacle, shows how your wishful thinking is off. That's not burn-out or six people bickering back and forth--that's a lot of people looking for information. Though I suspect they're not that interested in this sort of thing.
So, seriously, do you actually listen to people who don't share your views? Just quietly listen? Because you don't seem to have any idea how deep and widespread the anger is about this. That's been an ongoing problem with the pro-MI crowd--the inability to really get why they've ticked people off. There's this kind of inability to see how their pet project and the way they pursued it interacts and affects the larger whole.
Well, actually, it seems like you guys are so invested in it that there's a willed blindness about it. It's sort of bizarre to watch, actually.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Oct 13, 2007 at 12:32 am
Oops, wrong thread for that last comment.
a resident of Midtown
on Oct 13, 2007 at 8:14 am
I recently read a question here asking when the remaining forums are taking place for the school board race. The next forum is this Monday night (10/15)at Juana Briones Elementary School. Here is a complete list of the remaining forums. Please note, all the forums have a moderator, and take written questions from the audience. Each question takes about 7 minutes, because all six candidates get equal time to answer. This means in a two-hour debate, we can take (generally) 12 or so questions. This means we do not have time to take all questions submitted. We have three impartial question sorters at each school forum; two of these sorters are from the school where the forum is taking place, and one is from Palo Alto PTA Council Parent Education (the team organizing these school forums and coffees this election season). We have no agenda with regard to questions selected, other than we are looking for a wide-range of questions. We also look for strong, challenging questions that will reveal the most about how these candidates think--and how they might lead. At the forum, you also get a contact sheet for all six candidates, so if your question is not selected, you can still seek direct answers from the candidates. We strongly encourage you to attend one or more forums and we hope you will submit the questions that you want answers to. Please note, more than 100 volunteers are helping to put on these forums and coffees at more than a dozen schools around Palo Alto. We appreciate their dedication and great help. And we appreciate the dedication, on the part of all six candidates, to participate in this process.
If you have any questions about the forums or coffees, you can email me at email@example.com (Wendy Kandasamy & I are co-chairs for Palo Alto PTA Council Parent Ed.) Please note, any PAUSD parent is welcome to attend any of the forums or coffees. We've also had neighboring residents attend these forums--and their participation has been greatly appreciated.
Mon. 10/15: Juana Briones Elementary, 4100 Orme Street, 7p.m.- 9p.m.
All-Candidates Forum
Thurs. 10/18: Palo Alto High School, 8:30a.m-10a.m.
All-Candidates Coffee & Forum
Fri. 10/19: Nixon Elementary, 1711 Stanford Ave. 8:00a.m.-9:30a.m.,
All-Candidates Coffee & Forum
Thurs. 10/25: Barron Park Elementary, 800 Barron Ave., 7p.m. – 9p.m.
All-Candidates Forum
Mon. 10/29: Terman Middle School, 655 Arastradero, 7p.m. – 9p.m.
All-Candidates Forum
Mon. 10/15: Young Fives/PreSchool Family: 4120 Middlefield Ave.
All-Candidates Coffee,8:30a.m. – 9:30a.m.
Thurs.10/25: Hoover Elementary, 445 East Charleston Rd. 8a.m. – 9:30a.m.,
All-Candidates Coffee
Fri. 10/26: Jordan Middle School, 750 N. California Ave., 8:30a.m.-9:30a.m.
All-Candidates Coffee
Thurs. 11/1: Walter Hays Elementary, 1525 Middlefield Ave., 8:15a.m. – 9:15a.m.
All-Candidates Coffee
Fri. 11/2: Fairmeadow Elementary, 500 Meadow, 8:15a.m.-9:30a.m.
All-Candidates Coffee
Wed. Oct. 24: Community-Wide Conversation with New PAUSD Superintendent
Dr. Kevin Skelly, Jordan Auditorium, Jordan Middle School, 750 N. California Ave. Palo Alto, 7p.m. – 9p.m. Entire community welcome.
For more information on all these events, go to www.paloaltopta.org
a resident of South of Midtown
on Oct 13, 2007 at 10:44 am
Dear Carrie:
Thanks for taking the time for writing such a great clarification. I know you and several others are putting in probably 100s of hours to keep these forums on track, and I think it is safe to say we all appreciate it.
a resident of South of Midtown
on Oct 13, 2007 at 6:08 pm
Wow! Another thread about MI! No it still isn't going away. And, there are quite a few of us who oppose MI and will not let it go as we've been hoodwinked as a community in so many ways by the proponents of this program. Really I've been following this issue for a long time and I've never heard a coherent argument on the pro side that made any case for MI other that that they want it. There are lots of things I would love to see in this school district but I work for the ones that seem to be worth it for the community as a whole rather than my own little in group. You just can't change that basic feature of MI. A boutique program for a few kids. That is what won't go away. Yes there will be a backlash!
a resident of Evergreen Park
on Oct 13, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Let's stop beating a dead horse. MI is here. It will succeed or it will fail. Ho-hum.
Let's get on to other topics. Give the new superintendent and the new board a chance to get their bearings and move us in positive directions. There are plenty of challenges ahead, and opportunities too, I hope.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Oct 13, 2007 at 8:02 pm
When did MI get here? And where do you expect it to go in three years?
It's not a dead horse simply because there are too many issues dependent on it.
Do you want another MI situation where a small group threatens a charter to get a program, not because it's seen as for the good of the district, but because it's the lesser of two evils?
If not, what do you propose be done about it?
Hi Another OP,
Glad to see another Ohlone voice.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Oct 15, 2007 at 9:38 am
We'll see the backlash when it comes time to pass a bond. It's tragic that Camille Townsend, who led the flip-flopping on the MI decision, has been let off by the press.
We need three new board members.
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Oct 15, 2007 at 2:33 pm
Want to pass a bond:
It's going to be very difficult to pass any bonds for the next ten years. Even the library bond is touch and go; Mitchell may lose because of "extra" non-Mitchell attachments - any one of which could be the critical poison pill. Support for a new midtown library is very broad, but it's not very deep or very solid. However, Mitchell has the best chance to pass, because a new library won't encourage (or discourage) development.
Palo Alto is being changed into a place very different from the one so many of us chose to make a home. It's the Council's choice; not the residents.
The constant demolition and construction has created a hostile atmosphere toward further development, and also for bonds that will encourage more development. That's true of school bonds as well as utility bonds.
Ten years from now, the new housing will be filled with voters who will have chosen Palo Alto the way it will have become. Perhaps they will be willing to pay for the utilities and schools they need. I doubt that any school board or any council could do much to change the attitude we old residents have toward
That's not much comfort for the parents affected by the shortage of classrooms today, but it's also true a bond wouldn't change that for another three-four years even if it passed. I think parents should focus on getting the board to allocate the funds it has to getting more classrooms, and not pin much hope on getting the community to pay for expansion.
a resident of Downtown North
on Oct 15, 2007 at 4:11 pm
That's a pretty dark assessment. Here's why I think you should reconsider.
Many older residents in our community want to live out the rest of their lives here. Unless we bring more development in - including senior-friendly "second homes" that can be purchsed through leveraging agreements on currently owned property, we are going to see a lot of older residents forced to leave Palo Alto.
It's too bad that you see growth as an "either/or" choice. It's not. If done right, growth can be an opportunity, instead of a burden.
Here's something that I can pretty much guarantee. If we see a traditional resident "no" vote against creating facilities that were equal to what you enjoyed from prior generation's investments, there will be very little mercy shown by the bulk of recent and new residents as shortages of space and services begin to force their vote for more development.
We'd better start talkig to each other, and fingure out ways to grow that benefit all - because we ARE going to grow.
Currently, I'm somewhat concerned that a few favored City Council candidates are coming out of the chute as quite conservative on growth. I'm especially concerned with one candidate's positions, and what his agenda might really be (Schmid).
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Oct 15, 2007 at 4:55 pm
I was trying to persuade you that the fight over MI has become part of the anger at the general collapse of the old community, and you should let it go. Realistic parents should concentrate on getting more classrooms out of the existing budget.
Of course there will be continued growth in Palo Alto. Not because there's any need for it, but because the real estate market is fading. People who hold land are going to be in a hurry to cash in, as values are no longer rising. Any new Council member will fall in line, just as Peter Drekmeier did. It's not admirable, but it is reality.
I seriously doubt that you are going to persuade current residents that they have any obligation to come to the aid of developers. Only as recently as 800 High, residential development was touted as a way to raise money for the community. Of course, that was nonsense.
I think there are many, many more worthy objects for charity than Palo Alto.
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Oct 15, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Want to pass a bond: the things I valued about Palo Alto can't be replaced with money. They are gone forever.
The parks are being covered with facilities, the gardens have become "landscaping" and instead of a sense of community, there's silly gabble about "equal facilities."
a resident of Downtown North
on Oct 15, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Carol said:, "Of course there will be continued growth in Palo Alto. Not because there's any need for it, but because the real estate market is fading. People who hold land are going to be in a hurry to cash in, as values are no longer rising. Any new Council member will fall in line, just as Peter Drekmeier did. It's not admirable, but it is reality."
The real estate market is NOT fading in Palo Alto. There may be a temporary lull, but there will continue to be upswings - steady rises - in real estate here, and throughout the Peninsula. Certain demographics will become challenged.
There is still a sense of community here, somewhat different than what you became accustomed to. Change is a reality; it's best to adapt to change, and move on from there.
Of course, one can always fight to keep change from happening, but that's a losing battle.
As for Council members "falling in line": there is little chance for radical change in any 9 person, consensus-required, political body. The only thing that would change that is either a charter change to demand an elected mayor, driven by a well-coordinated group that has a cohesive, convincing, alternate vision.
There is a possibility for some innovation here, but that won't happen in a serious way intil we see vision at the policy-making level that points beyond our borders, to regional cooperation.
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Oct 15, 2007 at 6:43 pm
How does all of this fit in with the MI opposition? Most of it wasn't racist, but some of it was. And, as they still say in the South, where I was born - "lie down with pigs, you'll get up dirty." (And who should know better than a white Southerner how very, very dirty you can get?)
I thought the MI proposal was the first sign of intellectual life I'd seen in our school system. I understand, and sympathize, with parents who can't get their children into the neighborhood schools, but I thought MI was being made a scapegoat.
The opposition got very, very ugly. You should recognize that.
Aside from that, it's not going to be easy to get 2/3rds votes to subsidize the consultants, the studies, etc. etc.
a resident of South of Midtown
on Oct 17, 2007 at 2:44 pm
A.S. No, the horse isn't dead. It's coming to Ohlone where it will make people very uncomfortable. An election is coming up and it will make some candidates, one in particular, very uncomfortable. The ill will nurtured by its proponents will be reaped by this whole community in the years to come. Neigh.
a resident of Midtown
on Oct 17, 2007 at 4:04 pm
In casual conversations around our school and playing fields, I have not met anyone that actually supports MI. (I did meet someone in a bar who will apply to Ohlone next year to try and get into the MI lottery, and so I assume does support it.)
The rest are indifferent at best, and many actively dislike it and the way the BOE handled the matter. If it "goes away" as an issue it will leave a legacy of dislike and bitterness.
The accusation of racism seemed (and still seems) a cheap shot by the pro-MI faction to cloak their behavior in sanctimony, and avoid an honest assessment of the value of the program to the district as a whole.
But no reason to take the word of an anonymous poster on the internet. There is an election in a few weeks, and the results are going to indicate the feelings of the community - particularly whether Ms. TOwnsend is re-elected.
a resident of Escondido School
on Oct 17, 2007 at 4:58 pm
I get a kick out of this whole "it's over" mentality. The ONLY thing that's over is the discussion about whether to have it or not. Now that the vote(s) are in, MI is just beginning.
I question the motives of *some* (not all) of the people who ask those who were vocally opposed to MI to be quiet and move on. There's a well-deserved lack of trust. Once trust is broken, the natural -- and justifiable -- human response is to watch them like a hawk.
To imply that this reaction will create a backlash...well, it all depends. If the hawkish watchers exercise the same dogmatic "everything you say is wrong because it's coming out of your mouth" attitude that the more staunch MI supporters displayed, then yes, I'd have to agree with you.
But to imply that now that the votes are over the MI program should be given carte blanche to do whatever they want however they want – after all, they've got the big bucks so the rest of us should butt out – will do even more harm. The same way that the PA Weekly, in their endorsement of the candidates, said it was strangely lacking that Camille Townsend did not confront the MI issues leading up to where we are today, it would be strangely amiss if we all just buried this as though it never happened.
One of the things I'll be looking for is how *pro-actively* the MI leaders create a program that has benefits for the greater community. I wrote about this in another thread. They have cost the community a great deal of friction and probably a bond. I'd like to see them come to terms with that and ask (themselves or the rest of us) what they can do to give back to the community. It's a give and take thing – it's time for them to creatively look at how they can give in a way that benefits all.
Once they prove that they're willing to put their energy to use in a way that demonstrates consideration of all – and especially of those they're negatively impacting -- they will regain trust.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Oct 17, 2007 at 5:10 pm
[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Oct 17, 2007 at 5:20 pm
There are many reasons to vote in a new school board. Too bad that you're hanging so much of it on MI. What about the secrecy, the substitution of consultants for common sense, the support of a Superintendent beyond reason? What about the failure to budget for a growing student body.
Here's hoping that the new school board doesn't have the same corporate board style as the old one. The new Superintendent will also bear watching.
It is not promising that this new Superintendent lack a commitment to openness - and also lacks respect for parent volunteers.
[Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
a resident of Escondido School
on Oct 17, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Right. And there will continue to be people like that on the pro-MI side. Not much we can do about it.
The people I'm watching are the MI leaders with authority – the ones listed on the FLAP grant who are responsible for creating the MI program. They are Marilyn Cook, Becki Cohn-Vargas, Norman Masuda, William Garrison, Duarte Silva, Amado Padilla and Grace Mah.
The buck stops with them. No sense holding the vocal staunch supporters responsible for the program details, although a little introspection on their part and a gentler attitude towards the have-nots would go a long way in mending the community rift.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Oct 17, 2007 at 9:34 pm
MI's an issue, in part, because it epitomizes so much of what was wrong with the Churchill bureaucracy and the current board. Everything you mention played its part in the MI debacle. It was only a minority of the MI opposition that was opposed to MI under any circumstances.
I think if the board had voted through MI back in January *and* voted to reopen Garland with the provision of putting MI there, a lot of people would be less than thrilled with the decision, but you wouldn't have nearly the rift that you have now.
Yet another,
I think it's not coincidental that the pro-MIers on this forum and Camille Townsend have both been emphasizing how we must move on.
I don't think Townsend understands that the best way to move on is to move on without her.
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Oct 17, 2007 at 10:27 pm
OhlonePar: I hope parents find the energy to stay with the new board. I do agree with the Weekly's editorial.
The MI proposal sounded exciting to me; but I was completely taken aback to discover that the board had taken it so far without admitting that they had done nothing to prepare for the number of classrooms that would be necessary.
The lotteries for placement in neighborhood schools, the re-drawing of school boundary lines - these all seemed evidence of absent or useless oversight. Where had the BOE been for the last ten years?
My children being long grown, I had not been following the school board, but as the bad news kept rolling out, I couldn't see why there hadn't been a parent revolt long before, especially over the failure to plan for increased enrollment. That is so fundamental.
a resident of Midtown
on Oct 17, 2007 at 11:09 pm
"It was only a minority of the MI opposition that was opposed to MI under any circumstances."
If that's really true, then how come you and your core group still seem intent (or rather, quite frankly, obsessed) with eliminating the program by seemingly any means necessary?
Yes, you can use the approval of MI as an example to say we need to fix the process (or to get rid of Townsend because she oversaw that process), but to also continue to seek to eliminate MI after that approval seems not only mean-spirited (to say the least), but also quite frankly just plain stupid (given the federal grant it subsequently received). THAT'S where the backlash will come if you continue to push it, IMO.
I guess what I'm really saying is that you don't necessarily need to "move on," but just don't be vindictive about it.
I'd also suggest that you should re-read Carol Mullen's posts again - I think they represent the "moderate majority" out there concerned about bigger and more important things than MI.
a resident of Gunn High School
on Oct 17, 2007 at 11:41 pm
A gentler attitude towards the have-nots. There are a lot of have nots in this district not just now but in the past. Although there are many examples, here are two:
From the past: At Hays, students have a Perceptual Motor Program in addition to PE. Hays students received other enrichment programs through the huge amount of funds their PTA used to raise compared to other schools. PiE dollars pay for this program now. PiE's fundraising has really helped to equalize the disparity between what each of the school communities could raise in the past.
More recently: At Nixon a few years ago, a parent donated up-to-date, state-of-art computer equipment completely refurbishing their computer lab. In the meantime, the high schools were limping along with old, old computer equipment in the labs the students use. The district has provided funds in the last year or two to start upgrades. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a way to direct private donations of equipment from parents to where the highest need in the district is.
Okay, one more, Paly pool.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Oct 17, 2007 at 11:48 pm
I don't have a "core" group. Seriously, I'm not on PAEE's mail list and I'm anonymous even at Ohlone.
So while it's convenient to lump all the opponents together--thus making all of us responsible en masse for what others say--it's not actually accurate.
My concern is more focused on MI than many because I am an Ohlone parent, so what happens on-site is a bigger deal for me than if I were a parent at, say, Nixon.
The MI proposal voted through is a practical mess. Its initial stages will overcrowd the school with no benefit to the school at large. Even so, Ohlone can't actually support a full MI strand, unless it becomes a mega-elementary (nothing like a commuter school of 600 with 15 parking spots on a residential street.) or cuts into the Ohlone-English strands.
So, the fact that the board passed this without having a plan for where MI goes in three years is a big issue for me--because its my kids' education that's affected by this lack of planning.
The lack of planning may have an even worse affect on the MI kids. We're talking about a program which has no previously tested curriculum. The demands of learning a language like Mandarin and Ohlone's approach don't obviously jibe. It was reckless to approve that kind of educational plan without further study.
I won't get into the many other issues.
At the same time, I've spoken up several times in favor of language instruction and the beneficial effects of immersion. When the board came out against MI 4 to 1, I was one of the MI opponents who discussed various ways in which there could be language instruction without the school crowding problem.
To me, it seems worth exploring summertime language immersion courses supported by non-immersion language instruction during the year. This approach is often used in Europe. It would offer some of the benefits of immersion without the space problems.
I've also suggested, more recently, that when the JCC vacates half of Greendell that might be a home for the MI program.
Now, if you or anyone cares to assuage my concerns, go to it, but I have yet to see anyone even come close to actually grappling with them. It's like hanging out with a bunch of ostriches in a sandpit.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Oct 18, 2007 at 12:07 am
Hi Carol,
The lack of foresight and planning has been sort of mind-boggling. I kept watching the board and thinking they must have their act together more than it seemed, but, no, they really seemed to be navigating by the seat of their pants.
I mean, we Ohlone parents didn't hear about plans to put MI at Ohlone until two days before the board hearing on it. It was handled in just a terrible way--pretty much guaranteed to create an us v. them feeling.
And, frankly, that's never stopped.
I do think Callan and the board's inability to manage her had a lot to do with this. I was at one of the MI public discussions held later (when the BOE after voting no, decided to flip in face of a charter threat--though why couldn't they have seen that one coming?) and it was a heated discussion. At the end, Mary Frances Callan lectured us on our behavior. She did *not* approve. And, man, did my inner high-school rebel come back--it was a real flashback.
And I thought, wow, she totally, totally doesn't get it. She totally didn't get that we were voters and she was working for us, not the other way around.
I think to some extent that Townsend bought into that--she forgot that she wasn't working for the superintendent of schools. In the day-in/day-out of meetings with the district bureaucracy, she lost sight of her primary responsibilities.
It's funny, I mean I know none of the board members are dumb, but there was a fecklessness that was really something to watch.
You know, I actually wasn't paying attention to the board prior to all of this, but yes, now I'll keep an eye on them. Though, frankly, I wish we could get a board that I trusted enough to ignore again.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Oct 18, 2007 at 8:15 am
"[MI's] initial stages will overcrowd the school with no benefit to the school at large."
No overcrowding. As to no benefit, that depends on your attitude. For you personally, there will be none. For those who approach life more openly, there will be many chances for mutual benefit.
You pretend to be concerned about where MI will go in time, but you show no evidence of any real concern. It's another excuse to oppose MI. You know best why.
"When the board came out against MI 4 to 1, I was one of the MI opponents who discussed various ways in which there could be language instruction without the school crowding problem."
Yes, when you thought MI was dead, you came up with unrelated ideas to give your own kids some language, ideas that didn't begin to address the educational needs of MI supporters.
"I mean, we Ohlone parents didn't hear about plans to put MI at Ohlone until two days before the board hearing on it." So what? Do you expect to vote on it? (And look at the way some Ohlone parents--a minority--handled it: threats to shun MI kids, etc. Imagine what the parents would have gotten up to given more time.)
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Oct 18, 2007 at 8:20 am
OhlonePar: Don't think of it as trust vs. mistrust. It's the parents who make the district. The Board members need to hear from you to balance the extensive input they will get from the school administration. It's not that these people start with the wrong ideas; it's the effect of working as if they were a corporation, in spite of the fact that their goal is not a product, and the customers are really shareholders.
It is hard to find the time, but the Board cannot get the trust of the community; only the parents can do that. The parents have to be kept informed; a secretive Board ought to be recalled.
It would be wonderful if we could just elect good people and relax. That hasn't seem to work at any level. Not at the school board, not at the City Council, the State, the Congress...
I think it was Ben Franklin who described our government as "a republic....if we can keep it."
Apparently it takes a regular infusion of democracy from keeping a republic from handening into an autocracy.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Oct 18, 2007 at 8:43 am
I for one would love to move on from MI.
However, MI keeps getting in the way.
I think one of our biggest problems is the future growth, over enrollment and stymied school campus sites that means we can't increase beyond the 3 strands per grade model without a board waiver. I would love to see Garland back as a new school where we could put the kids that are presently being overflowed from the North cluster. I would like to see Ohlone increased in size so that by taking more students overall they would be helping out the overcrowding in the south. Unfortunately, MI makes these things very difficult. Without MI things could be done better in the elementary schools.
Our middle school campuses are feeling the crunch with growth. Making Garland a k - 6th campus, with 6th grade sharing some of the JLS facilities would be a solution. Unfortunately, the MI people seem to think that MI would automatically be their's. Without MI we could use Garland very innovatively.
Our high school language classes are back in the stone age. The text boods are falling apart and the most technology they use is old videos. We really need to start spending money on the whole secondary language programs, starting with middle and also the high school programs. We need to get modern language teaching methods into all the classrooms. However, now that MI has all this money coming, it will be so much more glamorous than the other programs that other languages will soon be considered second best to Mandarin by the students who don't get the toys to play with. Without MI we could improve the language programs simultaneously.
There seems to be an achievement gap which keeps getting forgotten. At present there are also a lot of ELL students who need to learn English better so that they can do well in other subjects. There are many students with various learning disabilities. All of these matters need time and debate, they need specialist research, time and BoE discussions. Unfortunately, there has been and still is so much time being spent on the installation of a MI program, that staff can't get a heads up in these areas because they are too busy looking into the start up problems of MI.
So you see, there are problems with MI getting in the way of all our problems. Whichever way you look at it, we can't get over MI because it is in the foreground of almost every problem that PAUSD has at present.
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Oct 18, 2007 at 10:03 am
From a community point of view, I see two languages which have special possibilities for the children in Palo Alto: Spanish and Mandarin. There are bilingual communities here, to give them practice. If this were Los Angeles, it could be Farsi.
There are sources of financial support. That's going to be important.
There are cultural, political, educational and scientific institutions to which these children will have access only if they are fluent in these languages. The high schools produce an acquaintance with languages, but not fluency. It's not necessarily too late, because my children were natural linguists (and had the benefits of earlier training) but there is so much else for a teenage to do. Immersion seems only possible at the elementary level.
I didn't see any evidence that the Board was moving to do any of the things you want, or any of the things Grace Mah wanted, nor toward reasonable public disclosure of the chaos in the system.
I wish that someone would break open the hermetically sealed City Council system. (I guess Grace Mah will be too busy but perhaps someone younger and healthier than I will borrow her blasting tools.)
It's not the Palo Alto Way, but the Palo Alto Way seems to be secrecy, protect incompetence, don't move, just spend money on studies and consultants.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Oct 18, 2007 at 10:03 am
That's a novel and unfounded analysis (eliminating MI solves everything!). Yet MI is here, so it's just idle daydreaming. The board and all the board candidates are over MI. You need to get past it, too.
We need some pragmatic solutions that take into account all the kids in the district and don't seek to solve problems at the expense of a few. These pragmatic solutions will, obviously, have nothing to do with killing MI. Let's hope the new board can block out the noise and get down to business.
a resident of Midtown
on Oct 18, 2007 at 10:39 am
[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Oct 18, 2007 at 10:40 am
[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Oct 18, 2007 at 10:41 am
[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
a resident of College Terrace
on Oct 18, 2007 at 10:45 am
Move On! -- you're right that no one is suggesting we now decide against MI. I'd not be surprised though, to see support for a one or two year moratorium on the program. We're not far into the year of planning and what has been done so far can still be used if, for example, a decision was made to start in 2009-10 rather than 2008-09. If we lose a Federal grant, what's the big deal, since MI is cost-neutral.
There are many other planning issues, after all, that it would make sense to settle first, before deciding, for example, that MI really needs to be at Ohlone. (It's not like the idea of a constructivist immersion program was ever in the original proposal—as plenty of people have pointed out here that's a 'mash-up' born of political expediency more than anything.)
With a moratorium on MI we could address facilities planning, boundaries, opening of new schools and the design of the entire World Languages program first, which is what many of us objecting to implementing MI NOW wanted all along. The reason we argued that way was that there really IS a better order in which to do these things. Making a decision to open a new choice program really does close down other options which, given the huge challenges that the district faces, would be much better to have open while those issues are being decided.
That argument still has value even if the fundamental decision to have the program has been made. We can grant that an MI program will exist soon, and we can still benefit from having the bigger issues (like addressing expanding enrollment) decided first and allowing them to impact MI (such as in the choice of where MI is to reside) rather than vice versa.
Some people have argued that asking for more pressing issues to be settled first is to say that there would never be a time to start a new program. I don't buy that. I simply think a new, boutique program (however exciting, innovative etc. etc.) should very properly be expected to wait its turn if doing the opposite hurts the district (which many people, including a majority of the current BOE, have said is the case).
If the fear of saying no to MI is the renewed threat of a charter application, a moratorium rather than a cancellation should surely protect against that, as it gives the district a perfectly valid reason for rejecting the charter, since the proposed charter would be reproducing a district program planned for a year or so hence.
Many people in this forum seem to agree that MI will continue to be a cause of friction in the community thanks to the way that it came to us. Couldn't a moratorium, which would allow us to resolve many of the issues that MI jumped ahead of, ease that friction tremendously? -- an outcome that I would argue we need if we're ever to get a bond passed again and something that would make the moratorium worth far more to the district than the loss of a FLAP grant.
a resident of Midtown
on Oct 18, 2007 at 10:52 am
PA Dad - the moratorium makes sense in light of our current issues which should be resolved - but doesn't let the young children of the MI supporters start "immersing" next year...
a resident of Fairmeadow School
on Oct 18, 2007 at 10:58 am
It's so sad to see this continual bickering and bashing. Really turns me off of TownSquare, and especially these threads.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Oct 18, 2007 at 11:02 am
The board and all the board candidates certainly aren't over MI -
They may be in active denial, but they have a lot of MI issues yet to decide.. location, funding/spending (cost neutrality), staff resource levels, reporting to the community, reporting to the federal government, pilot performance analysis, lottery issues, bond impact, etc.
The only thing that's OVER is the approval vote. The entirety of the implementation, roll out and operation of MI is YET in the future. The simple plain fact is, its not over. It's just beginning. And the board is going to be dealing with it.
[Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Oct 18, 2007 at 11:04 am
If you don't like the bickering in these threads, you can read the other threads. Some of what is being said here is actually good and also polite. Most of the MI threads state that in the heading and it is very easy to avoid them.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Oct 18, 2007 at 11:40 am
[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Oct 18, 2007 at 11:45 am
"How about considering the needs of all the children in the district?" That's what I'm arguing for. (That includes MI kids.)
There is no need (or support on the board) for a moratorium. The board has moved on. A moratorium would not resolve any problems but would lead to a charter. Losing the grant is a big deal, actually, since it means a net inflow into district coffers. Losing it means the district would be poorer.
I agree with some of the priorities you mention, and we should go ahead with them. They have nothing to do with MI, and proceeding with MI doesn't close any doors. I guess I need to remind you that there was a moratorium on new choice programs and that it was lifted. MI patiently waited its turn for many years, and now it has arrived. We need some pragmatic solutions that take into account all the kids in the district and don't seek to solve problems at the expense of a few.
It's time to move forward and solve overcrowding issues, etc. Looking back is a waste of time.
"Eliminating MI simplifies the real issues," That's true. But the same can be said about many other things: FLES, Ohlone, Hoover, SI, gosh it would really simplify things if we decided not to teach the kids at all. But simplification is not a goal in itself.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Oct 18, 2007 at 11:59 am
I did attend board meetings and spoke up--but it's like nothing got through. Frankly, I find my OhlonePar alter ego here has more impact than the nonvirtual me does.
As for MI, it's funny, but it's actually not that big a language here--yes, it's the most widely spoken second language in Palo Alto, but it's still less than 2 percent. It's not even widely spoken in Santa Clara County. Nothing like the 20,30 and 40 percent figures you get for Spanish in this state.
Which doesn't mean it shouldn't be taught. But in what context and when? What priority should it have?
And, of course, that stuff just got tossed all over the place. And it's still up in the air because of the sloppy decision-making by the board.
But I think most people know this--even, I suspect, a fair number of the staunch MI supporters.
So, where do we go from here and who can handle it? Klausner's mix of experience and her careful comments are striking me favorably as I read more about her.
a resident of Midtown
on Oct 18, 2007 at 12:10 pm
My concern is that the MI thing is like a red-herring..taking away from the big picture of how it really represents pretty much everything that we are rebelling against, ...poor prioritizing, poor vision of goals, poor management, poor listening, and arrogant, dismissive attitudes.
THAT is really the bottom line, and is NOT limited to the incumbent Board Member, but is best represented by her as being the primary person on the Board who spearheaded the efforts in a few efforts which have blown up.
I hope that we get 3 new knowledgeable, analytical, logical, transparent, listening, respectful Board members with a "single district" but differentiated instruction vision, who know their job is policy making and Superintendant supervision, and who insist on full, professional reports on which to base their decisions,
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Oct 18, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Move On!
Wny not a moratorium? I disagree that MI waited its turn. That's precisely what didn't happen--charter threat to get program despite bottom priority on the strategic plan. Sounds more like shoving in line to me.
So, why not? Is there any reason besides the age of the kids of some of the MI supporters?
Here's the advantage I see to a moratorium--the incoming board is less likely to ignore the need for another elementary. New elementary means less overcrowding.
As Parent, I think, suggested, expand Ohlone another half strand, since the demand's already there. With Garland in the north and Ohlone picking up slack in both the north and south you have a less-frustrated district.
So, MI? at that point, a couple of options become available that currently are not. One is to put a strand at Garland, though there are issues with that. Another is to take over the JCC part of Greendell when the JCC leaves. At that point, you have vacant in space in a location that's already in use by part of the district. I'm guessing that it's reasonably up to code as a result. And it can't be used for a full-size neighborhood school without booting Young Fives and PSF. It's a good spot for a small, specialty program.
At that point, MIers would be much more likely to get an immersion program whose curriculum has been tested.
The arguments against it? Well, what are they? Age of MI supporter kids? Impatience? Charter threat? (Not a great idea because at that point the board can nix the MI program and PACE is back at square one. And the board has the option of putting you guys anywhere in the county. The incoming board is less likely to be taken by surprise on the charter stuff than the current one.)
Anyway, back to the thread topic--move on from the hottest topic of the year during election season? From the crowd that can't let go of MI--I mean, you guys keep complaining about how long you had to wait. In other words, you didn't move on.


text:
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Awesome. Thank you for sharing these.
No one famous.
Kewl pics
Thanks for sharing. What kind of tree is that in picture 5?
"Life will find a way - it always finds a way." -Jurassic Park (MOVIE/BOOK)
USDA Zone 5a
That was a sourwood bloom, not 50 yards from my bee yard.
It takes a family to raise a family, it takes a village to really screw that up... Djei5
Awsome pics, Hope you successfully caught that swarm back!
Berthiaume Apiary http://www.sudburyhoneybee.ca


text:
The tutors on my bee course very much advocate having an open floor.
I could go for nailing wirecloth to the bottom instead of a board(not sure about the resulting (in)stability tho), but because the hive is so long and on a high stand (50cm), I'm a little worried about this being too drafty.
I saw an interesting way of making a bottom, its built from PVC tubing that is slotted into a bar with holes either end to keep the tubes 3.5 mm apart.
What do you think of that design?
My main worry is that if I have a comb failure with any open bottom, the entire mess will drip onto the floor below the hive and I'll have a robbing problem, and also, is a 3.5mm gap small enough to stop other bees from coming in?
Ps.: Why is it that everytime I think I've finished my hive design and made the xfig picture of it, that something else crops up and I have to change everything?


text:
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The Dallas Cowboys will host three free agents on Monday, including Michael Huff, a former top-10 pick who played collegiately at Texas. But the Cowboys can't sign any of their free agents.
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text: I see all these talks about using oxlic acid, grease patties, powder sugar to treat mites on Honey bees. All these are great I am sure but not if you dont know how to use any of them. Can you guys give me references on where to go look these different styles up and also let me know what works best for you. Explain how to use what you talking about as most new bee keepers dont have a clue what your talking about.,


text:
Aerial view looking north on UTSA 1604 Campus: Sam Barshop Boulevard roundabout (lower left)
with new parking lot 12 (top left); Wellness and Recreation Center with outdoor pool
(right center); University Oaks apartments (bottom)
Sam Barshop Boulevard opens at 1604 Campus
By Ashley Harris
Public Affairs Specialist
(June 26, 2008)--UTSA officially opened Sam Barshop Boulevard on the 1604 Campus with a reception, tour and ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, June 18. The new street provides a continuous roadway connecting the north side of the campus to UTSA Boulevard on the south. For the celebration, UTSA President Ricardo Romo welcomed guests of honor Sam Barshop, his wife Ann Barshop and son Bruce Barshop.
Today's headlines
- La Prensa Foundation is newest member of UTSA Lone Star Society
- UTSA alumna Jordan Kaufmann wins $50K for new stent-graft start-up
- UTSA begins new way-finding sign installation this summer at Main Campus
- USA Today: UTSA long jumper Tyler Williamson rescues three-year-old boy
Article tools
The roadway provides access to expanded parking including more than 850 new spaces on the west side of the 1604 Campus. Three new shuttle stops will provide convenient service to the campus core. The boulevard ends on the campus' south side with a unique roundabout intersection near the Recreation and Wellness Center and University Oaks apartments.
Barshop is the founder and former CEO of La Quinta Inns Inc. and has served on the University of Texas System Board of Regents as well as the development boards of UTSA, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and the University of Texas at Austin. He also was a member of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Governor's Task Force on Higher Education.
"Sam Barshop's vision and business ability are well respected all over the state of Texas," said Romo. "But this new road will bear his name for another reason. Sam and his family are the kind of people who really care about the good of the community in which they live. They have been behind the scenes of so many important civic endeavors, it is nearly impossible to count them all. So, today we want to honor Sam Barshop and thank him especially for his lifelong dedication to higher education. Sam puts his passion for education to work and literally never rests from it."
Barshop is former director of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, Boys Clubs of America, St. Luke's Lutheran Hospital and National Bancshares Corporation of Texas. He served on the board of directors of Southwest Airlines, RepublicBank Corp. and the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation. Additionally, he is a recipient of the Americas Lodging Investment Summit Lifetime Achievement Award and is an inductee in the Texas Philanthropy Hall of Fame.


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Fira Montjuic Ricart
Size45 m²
Floor No.
- Family/child friendly
- Kitchen
- Air conditioning
- Washer/dryer
- Lockable room
- Towels
- Internet/WiFi
Accommodation summary
|Carrer de Ricart, 08004 Barcelona, Spain
|Property type
|Property ID
|Acceptance rate
|Response time
|A few hours
|Calendar updated
Ricart is the apartment of choice for people who are visiting one of the many fairs that take place throughout the year at the Fira de Montjuïc. It has been completely renovated and decorated in a modern fashion, while keeping the architectonical elements typical for the area, such as high ceilings, wooden beams and floors, and bare brick walls.
The apartment can accommodate up to four people: it has one room with a double bed and a sofa bed in the living room. An exclusive walk-in closet adds a touch of luxury to the place. Together with the modern and fully equipped kitchen, you are likely to have a memorable and homey experience.
The neighborhood
The apartment is located near the famous hill of Montjuïc, well known for its Magic Fountain, museums and historical sports facilities (built for the Olympic Games of 1992). The panoramic views from Montjuïc are spectacular. Also within that area are major attractions such as Barcelona's Fira and the Pueblo Español, a full-scale magnificent recreation of real Iberian streets, houses, parks, theaters, artisan workshops and restaurants.
Located near the Avinguda del Paral • lel, the busiest street in the Poble Sec neighborhood that during the forties was the star of the theater and cabaret scene in town. Here we find some of the most famous theaters of Barcelona: Teatro Musical, Teatro Victoria, Teatro Apolo, Teatro Condal and El Molino de Barcelona, one of the legendary sites of Barcelona's nightlife, the Spanish version of Moulin Rouge, where cabaret style burlesque shows and other musicals are represented.
In short, this flat is an excellent choice for any business or leisure traveler, less than 10 minutes away from the Plaza España, the business district and shopping centers.
Public transportation
A wide network of public transportation, busses and underground. Metro stations nearby: Poble Sec (L3) and España (L1 and L3)
House rulesHUTB:001648
Parties are not allowed.
The cost of cleaning is required. Cost 50€
Tourist tax 2.48€ for one night for one person.
Check in starts at 15:00
Check out before 11:00
The cost of damage deposit is 200€
The deposit is returned between 3 and 5 days after leaving the apartment.
Important: the deposit can only be paid by credit card
It is mandatory to provide a photocopy of passports of each person (or identity card)
The day of your entrance in the apartment, one hour before coming, we ask you to send a message or to call.
Late check in after 20.00-30 €, after 23.00-50€
We meet you in the apartment.
|Check-in after
|Check-in before
|On arrangement
|Check-out before
|Cancellation Policy
Reviews of this property
Just great! The person who greeted us was friendly. The apartment, in line with the announcement and photos, is very nice, comfortable, very clean and well located in a quiet area, two minutes walk from the Metro. We will quickly and easily in the center of Barcelona (Ramblas, Catalunya, Gracia, etc ....). Supermarkets, bakeries, restaurants and other small shops. All just steps from the Spanish Steps ...
Would recommend highly!
Tout très bien! La personne qui nous a accueillis était sympathique. L'appartement, conforme à l'annonce et aux photos, est très agréable, confortable, très propre et bien situé dans un quartier calme, à deux minutes à pied du métro. On va aisément et rapidement au centre de Barcelone (ramblas, Catalunya, Gracia, etc....). Supermarchés, boulangeries, restaurants et autres petits magasins à proximité. Le tout à deux pas de la place d'Espagne...
A recommander fortement !
It's been fantastic, the reception from Renata, interest and efficiency, very nice, well-conditioned, clean, cozy and well equipped apartment. It was a very pleasant stay and will repeat, no doubt.
Ha sido todo fantástico, la recepción por parte de Renata, su interés y eficacia, el apartamento muy agradable, bien acondicionado, limpio, acogedor y bien equipado. Ha sido una estancia muy agradable y repetiremos, sin duda.
Perfect place, floor care, welcoming property first.
Highly recommended, the truth is that I am totally satisfied.
Lugar perfecto, piso cuidado, acogedor, inmobiliario de primera.
Muy recomendable, la verdad es que estoy totalmente satisfecho.
The apartment is very comfortable, beautifully equipped and perfectly located. French popular in home and host discretion. Calm and contemporary style in a typical neighborhood. Successful contrast. Muchas gracias 10/10!
L'appartement est très confortable, magnifiquement équipé et parfaitement situé. Accueil en français très apprécié et discrétion de l'hôte. Calme et de style contemporain dans un quartier typique. Contraste réussi. 10/10 muchas gracias!
Reale nice apartment, well made and we had a pleasant stay. Close to the city centre but quit too. We can recommend this apartment.
Reviews for this host's other properties
The flat is like in the pictures, so it's clean. The location is perfect! It is near to the beach and the metro isn't so far away (5 minutes walk). The Wifi was realy good and fast :) A little supermarket is next to the apartment. We will see us again !
Kind regards from Switzerland
Okey standard. Allthough there was just 2 actual beds, the doublebeds are just thin madresses on wooden planks. The bathroom were really tight, but for a shorter stay its ok. No hot water the firts 2 days.
The girl that received us, Joanna, was very nice and punctual. We had no problem at all receiving the keys, everything was fine and the apartment is near the Tram and the Metro Station, very nice building and neighborhood, as a comment that we saw here, you can eat very good and not so expensive right across the street in the restaurant "Grillo". What we didn't like is that, in the first advertisement was not announced the deposit fee and how much was it, and a cleaning fee of 60 euros either. When we wanted to use the cups, they were not washed well even lipstick was on the edge of one of them and the 4 small ones that we needed were with stains of coffee in the base like they just stored them dirty. But the apartment was very clean and very comfortable and I would recommend it.
Flat top, keys easily, super friendly! again and again!
Excellent flat, key exchange without problems, super friendly! Fully recommended!
Wohnung spitze, Schlüsselübergabe problemlos, super freundlich! Immer wieder!
Excellent flat, key exchange without problems, super friendly! Fully recommended!
- Quality assured accommodation
- Every host is verified by telephone
- Secure payment via SSL encryption


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Dakota Decoys have designed unquestionably the most life like duck decoys on the market. The first thing you will notice is the most life like, hand painted finish ever put on a hunting decoy. Drakes go through a 24 step painting process, and hens go through a 16 step painting process. This attention to detail is evident the minute you lay eyes on these decoys!
Dakota Decoys Mallard Duck Decoy 12 pack has 6 different head styles in each dozen. These multiple heads come attached to the decoy, but will spin a full 360 degrees, to give your spread the most realistic look ever imaginable with decoys. These mallard duck decoys are manufactured out of the same 60/40 blend of high and low density polyethylene that has been proven extra tough.
These decoys will give you years of trouble free use. The decoys are slightly oversized, measuring 16 inches in length. They have a weighted keel. The decoys have a cleat added to the front of the keel to lengthen or shorten lines to the desired depth of water.
One look at these and you will agree that they are quality at its best!
12 Pack Includes:
Mack's Prairie Wings is not responsible for typographical errors in pricing or product specification inaccuracies in our web site. Prices are subject to change without notice.
Copyright © 2017 - Mack's Sport Shop LLLP - All rights reserved. Site Developed and Maintained by Ability Commerce
Copyright © 2004-2017 - Mack's Prairie Wings, Inc. - All rights reserved. Site Developed and Maintained by Ability Commerce


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Movie Review: RED 2

Bruce Willis resumes the role of a retired CIA agent in RED 2.

Director: Dean Parisot
Rating: R
Studio: DC Entertainment / di Bonaventura Pictures
Stars: Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren
Somehow, much of the snap and fizz that helped turn RED into one of 2010's most rousing box-office sleepers has been nicely preserved in RED 2, with newcomer old-timers Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-hun Lee hitching up with all-star returnees Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker and Helen Mirren.
Round two, based on a script by Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber adapted from Warren Ellis' comic book series for DC, sends out-to-pasture CIA agent Willis back into action after he and his wiggy, gun-crazy old bud Malkovich have a tête-à-tête at Costco. It turns out that due to an internet smear campaign meant to point the finger of suspicion at him, Willis must do some serious international globetrotting to salvage his reputation and, while he's at it, to stop the detonation of a long-missing nuke. Bring on the weapons, the car chases, the action sequences and the team camaraderie, aided and abetted by the expertly and stylishly oddball performances of cast members like Mirren as a cool, calculating assassin and Parker as Willis' thrill-crazy mate.
Other delightful scenery-chewing is demonstrated by Zeta-Jones (even in a small role) as one of Willis' sultry and sizzling old loves and, especially, by Hopkins as a Brit brain considered such a loose cannon he's shut up in a loony bin. The explosive, murder and mayhem–filled RED 2is lifted by its cast of old pros obviously having a ball and delivering some of the best popcorn-munching fun of the entire moviegoing summer. But since some of the characters meet their makers, we can't help but wonder whether the inevitable RED 3 might grow exponentially bigger and add to its cast of merry butt-kickers, oh, say, Meryl Streep, Sir Ian McKellen and Jack Nicholson. They'd be right at home.


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Calling All Young Recruits – Commando Kids' Fun at Fort Nelson this Bank Holiday - Tuesday, 24 August 2010
Test your skills on the junior commando assault course and the foam-dart shooting range; scale the impressive climbing wall and see a WW2 tank-style vehicle roar into life.
The Royal Armouries is offering action-packed fun for children of all ages this August Bank Holiday in an Army-style extravaganza.
Youngsters can pitch in and enjoy a Super Commando Kids' event on Sunday (August 29) and Bank Holiday Monday (August 30), from 10am on both days.
Further attractions include spectacular gun firings, by uniformed gunners, plus military dressing up and weapon handling.
The museum is open as normal and adults and children can view the nation's big gun collection and underground tunnels, and enjoy a picnic overlooking Portsmouth Harbour and the scenic Meon Valley. Alternatively, the Powderkeg café will be open for hot and cold drinks, plus light meals.
Fort operations manager Mark Selwood, said, "Our Commando Kids' days promise great entertainment for kids of all ages and an ideal way for them to let off steam. One of the highlights is undoubtedly the mighty 26-tonne Sexton armoured vehicle, which never fails to impress as it roars and clunks its way around the arena."
Event tickets cost £1 each for adults and £2.50 per child – or buy a family ticket for £5 (two adults, two children).
Last of the Summer Fun
Round off the last week of the summer holidays by visiting Fort Nelson:
- Tuesday (August 31) or Thursday (September 2) for one of the popular Fort Fun days.
- Tuesday – Legends of Robin Hood – Calling all "merry children" – listen to tales of Sherwood Forest, dress up medieval style, or have a go at real, longbow archery and even build Nottingham Castle.
- Thursday – Battle of Britain – This year marks the 70th anniversary of the heroic efforts of "The Few" and the battle to win supremacy over Hitler's Luftwaffe. Train to become a pilot and discover RAF tactics; keep fighting fit on the assault course and find out about wartime food rationing.
No need to book – just drop in! Tickets for the Fort Fun Days cost £5 (two adults, four children) or £1 for adults and £2.50 for kids.
For details regarding the project and the Royal Armouries' Dangerously Entertaining events programme, visit www.royalarmouries.org
Media contact
Joss Loader
Primary PR Ltd.
Tel: 07838 379599
Email: email@example.com
Notes to editors
- The Royal Armouries at Fort Nelson houses the national collection of historic cannon and big guns. The museum houses one of the world's finest collections with over 350 cannon dating back over 600 years. The collection originated at HM Tower of London and has been on display in Hampshire since 1995.
- The Royal Armouries at Fort Nelson also tells the story of the Palmerston Forts, built to protect Portsmouth from a feared French invasion in the 1860's.
- Every day, visitors can see one of the big guns fired in salute, watch our resident actors bring to life characters from 1,000 years of history, explore secret underground tunnels and enjoy incredible views from the ramparts. An extensive programme of special event spectaculars takes place throughout the year.
- Fort Nelson is open every day except 24-26 December. April to October 10am –5pm (Wed 11am-5pm), November – March 10.30am – 4pm (Wed 11.30-4pm).
- Admission to the Royal Armouries is FREE.
- Admission charges apply to some events.
- Information line: 01329 233734
- Website: www.royalarmouries.org
- Email: email@example.com
- The Royal Armouries is the national museum of arms and armour with sites at Fort Nelson, Leeds, HM Tower of London and Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
- The Royal Armouries Museum should not be confused with Royal Armouries International plc, the private sector corporate hospitality business.


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New York Times best-selling author William Kent Krueger has won numerous accolades for his books, including the Anthony Award for Best First Novel. In Trickster's Point, the 12th suspenseful installment in Krueger's Cork O'Connor series, Cork is framed for the murder of Minnesota's first Native American governor-elect, Jubal Little. As Cork fights to clear his name and uncover the truth, he discovers that events from his own past may hold the key to the real killer's identity.
©2012 William Kent Krueger (P)2012 Recorded Books
There are no listener reviews for this title yet.
"I'm Just Saying..."
Although I enjoyed this book in general, I believe that William Kent Krueger has committed a real author's no-no here. Regular fans of this series (and I am definitely one) will wonder why, if Cork O'Connor has been such a close friend of his Congressman for all these years, he didn't call on him to help when his wife Jo was missing - when he was so desperately looking for anyone who could exert influence in finding a missing airplane.
Why is such a prominent man who was evidently a big part of Cork's youth (and a continuing hunting buddy) a totally new character to us in the 12th book?
This glaring problem aside, "Trickster's Point" is a pretty solid entry in the series. It lacks the blazing action that has opened the last few O'Connor adventures, but the mystery here is an intriguing one. Although I believe most of us will have the who-done-it figured out before the reveal, it's still a riveting story. Cork's strong family values are still front and center, and he continues to present Ojibwe characters and culture in interesting ways. The narrator is terrific.
"The Cork O'connor books never disappoint. This is"
This is the 12th in the Cork O'Connor series. Cork goes hunting with a former friend of his four days before the election which might bring him the governorship of Minnesota, the first NativeAmerican governor. But while they are hunting on the most dangerous spot, Trickster's Point, Cork comes upon his friend with an arrow shot to his heart. His friend asks him not to go for help but to stay with him, so he sits with his friend for three hours while he is dying. Because he didn't try to go for help in that three-hour time, and because the arrow that was shot into his friend is made exactly the way he makes his own arrows, Cork is the prime suspect for the murder. So, in order to make sure he isn't arrested for the crime, and because this man was a friend from his past, he begins his own investigation to find the murderer. These books just keep getting better. It will be one of my top mysteries of the year with many twists and turns and surprises, and a visit with his friend, Henry, the medicine man. Very good.
"loved it, but..."
I love WKK and this series. But...it took some getting used to David Chandler in the beginning with the first few books. Then as soon as I've come to terms with him, Buck Schirmer is thrown in there and changing the pronunciations of the Ojibwe words. Then David comes back and more changes in pronunciations! Is Henry Meloux pronounced melloo or mello (long o sound)? Is he a Mide with a short I sound or long I sound as David Chandler re-pronounces it in the book Chapter 1? If I were narrating this book, I would feel compelled to contact a member of the Ojibwe tribe and get the correct pronunciations before committing text to tape. Just saying.
See comments above.
All the flashbacks got tiresome. Very little of the story is set in the "present". If you've read the entire series (which we have) probably a 1/4 of the story was redundebt. Another 1/2 were stories from his boyhood or being in high school. The present story line was good but there wasn't enough. It was a small part of the story but having one of the characters being from my hometown (Red Wing, MN) was interesting.
"Good Series"
Really like David Chandler also. Perfect voice for this author. The problem...WKK just can't write them fast enough for me.
"A stimulating read"
William Kent Krueger has a remarkable talent of weaving current world affairs gently into the background of his stories. Equally his characters develop in real time and bond with a sensitive blend of Ojibwe and Western ethics. All contribute to an exciting and compelling mystery with so much more than the average.
"Great story"
Second only to Iron Lake. Lots of good ones in between though. Unfortunately only two Books left in this series.
"The best O'Connor book yet"
I have to say that this is the best Cork O'Connor book I've read it yet. I read another review that was critical of the weaving of the backstory into the current story. But that's what made it so special to me. It was like getting two books in one. I'm glad David Chandler is back as the narrator. And the prayer Stephen offered at the end was the perfect ending.
"Krueger can tell a story"
Even if it takes 40+ Chapters to do it! The story dragged along, as it usually does with a cast of culprits and a host of sorted mot
"Cork novels just get better and better"
I did not like Cork's actions at one point in the book (took the Mrs to the mistress' cabin, not her place to be there and disrupt anything, I thought) and I HATED the way we heard double what Will said, just say it ONCE and leave it alone already,! Overall I liked the book and I had become quite accustomed to Buck Shriner's narration so it was kinda jarring to get used to David Chandler again. I think i like Mr. Shriner better actually. Overall though I liked the story the back and forth of it and getting into the history. I LOVE the native aspect of it and find myself agreeing with a lot of the thinking there. I will miss these books once I finish the series which I've read all in order. Oh, by the way, the Ernie cookie jar, I thought an earlier book said it was bought for Jenny whose favorite Sesame Street character is Ernie but in this one it said the jar was a shower gift when Jo was pregnant with Jenny. Hmmmmm ..... Oh one more thing i NEVER liked Jo so I am glad i don't have to put up with her negativity any more!! Rainy seems a better fit anyway .... Hope I haven't given away too much ... ENJOY
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Good news: Obama hikes 10-year deficit projection from $7 trillion to $9 trillion
posted at 6:23 pm on August 21, 2009 by Allahpundit
A late Friday afternoon candygram from the White House to help you get the weekend started right. And to think, China's starting to doubt that American debt is a smart investment.
It's a good thing our massive new health-care bureaucracy's going to be deficit-neutral. Imagine how much higher this number would be if it wasn't.
The Obama administration will raise its 10-year budget deficit projection to roughly $9 trillion from $7.108 trillion in a report next week, a senior administration official told Reuters on Friday.
"The new forecasts are based on new data that reflect how severe the economic downturn was in the late fall of last year and the winter of this year," said the official, who is familiar with the plans.
"Our budget projections are now in line with the spring and summer projections that the Congressional Budget Office put out."
The CBO said in June that deficits between 2010 and 2019 would total $9.1 trillion.
This would be the same CBO that's been warning us for months that ObamaCare will be a massive boondoggle. (And even CBO might be lowballing it.) I wonder: How many economic projections has Team Barry utterly cocked up so far? Is anyone keeping a list? Off the top of my head, there's this one, the infamous guesstimate that the stimulus would keep unemployment under eight percent, and the Cash for Clunkers funding that was supposed to last three months and ran out in a week. In these capable hands does the financial viability of universal health care rest. Exit question: Is this the stake in the heart of ObamaCare? One of the main reasons The One's polling is deteriorating is public skittishness about deficits. Suddenly, in one fell swoop, the problem's fully 30% worse than the White House thought, which all but destroys the credibility of their health-care projections going forward. (Not that they had much credibility to begin with.) It's time to walk away, Blue Dogs.
Update: Sounds like he dumped this almost literally as he walking out the door for his 10-day summer vacation. Unbelievable.
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Hi everyone- I'm a new bee guardian from Denver with a Golden Mean top bar hive from Backyard Hives. I got my swarm on May 4th and I'm excited about the whole process. I'm looking for others who use the guardian and top bar hive methods to share ideas and experiences. I've run into a few questions, but I've had a hard time finding someone with my same set up:
- Golden Mean Top Bar Hive
- Started from a swarm
- Hands off as possible...no feeding cup, no smoking.
Anyone else in my boat?


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Miss Oklahoma kicks off event by encouraging young women to share their story.
by Chelsey Johnson, Hoard's Dairyman Editorial Intern
Betty Thompson felt like she had the odds stacked against her when she ran for Miss America. "I was the little farm girl with a milk dud platform that wasn't tall enough to win," she said.
But, this Oklahoma farm girl sorted her way to 1st Runner Up in the 2012 Miss America pageant. Now, she travels the U.S. promoting her platform: "Milk, it really does a body good." This weekend, she made a trip to the Minnesota Dairy Princess Promotion event in St. Joseph, Minn., to remind young women that while their story may seem small, they shouldn't be afraid of sharing it.
On Friday evening, Thompson stood before a crowd of nearly 100 young women from across Minnesota as well as princesses from Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Her speech kicked off a weekend full of engaging presentations and sessions meant to equip young women with the tools needed to advocate for the dairy industry.
During the weekend, Minnesota princesses had the option to compete for one of 12 finalist spots for Princess Kay of the Milky Way, the official goodwill ambassador for the Minnesota dairy industry. During a banquet on Sunday afternoon 12 young women found out they would join the nearly 450 prior princesses who have sat in a rotating cooler while Linda Christiansen, a butter sculpting extraordinaire, creates their likeness in a 90-pound block of butter. The tradition of sculpting princesses in butter at the Minnesota State Fair has been around since 1965. Not only is it a source of pride for Minnesota dairy farmers, it also engages the thousands of fair visitors who pass through the dairy building.
While Minnesota dairy producers love finding out who will sit for the 12 signature butter sculptures, greater benefit for the dairy industry after this event is that nearly 100 young women went home ready to promote agriculture in a changing society.