Around The ‘Sphere
Links from varying political perspectives. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Moderate Voice.
THE DEAD POOL: The Smart Cop gives you images of the ones he feels won’t be here a year from now.
WHAT REALLY CAN GO ON IN A CLASSROOM: A student’s beating by a bully is caught on video tape and The Education Wonks (who know something about this) have something to say about it. Here’s just part:
There is an unwritten "code of silence" that every student knows, as does almost every public school teacher, as do most public school administrators.
The code simply states, "If you go to the authorities, sooner or later we are gonna make you pay." In other words, the bullies do not fear (nor respect) school authorities. And the victims know that the school will not protect them.
As an actively serving classroom teacher, I can affirm that this is the type of criminal behavior that is occurring everyday in classrooms around the country. There have been numerous classroom fights in my own mid-sized California school district. The difference, of course, is that this particular malefactor (obviously lacking any brains whatsoever) had an (equally idiotic) accomplice videotape the crime.
Expulsion for these two offenders will not even be automatic. There is a good chance that the school will find an "alternative placement" for these vicious predators. In other words, the school system will probably "pass the buck" and enroll these disgusting little creatures on another campus.
A WEBLOG NEEDS READER HELP: The progressive blog Wampum, which runs the Kofax Awards needs a relatively small amount of money to stay afloat. It posted this notice:
We’re asking again for financial support, namely because we found out last week that our single paying consulting gig has been postponed due to the death of one of the parties. While this is obviously tragic for the family, it also means it’s fish-cut-bait for us in determining whether we pay the ISP costs ($264.86) or fill the oil tank with what’s left in our checking account. Seriously, it’s down to that until we can drum up more business or start flipping burgers. We have until Monday to make that decision, and if it’s the latter, Wampum closes down. The PayPal contribution link is at the top of the page, and thanks to all in advance who click through it.
The Moderate Voice believes the increasing number of people who are turning to the Internet and weblogs are best served with a large menu of ideas. If Wampum leaves the scene the Internet will be poorer for it.
THE 40 MOST OBNOXIOUS QUOTES OF 2004: We previously gave you a link to the most obnoxious quotes from a conservative point of view. Here courtesy of Rooftop Report are the most obnoxious from the centrist point of view. A few of our favorites:
5. "It does not affect your daily life very much if your neighbor marries a box turtle. But that does not mean it is right… Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife." – Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)
Sounds like a shell game to me…
7. "Go f*ck yourself." – Vice President Dick Cheney to Sen. Patrick Leahy on the Senate floor
Hey: that’s what the last 10 emails from my readers said!
10. "Now, you think it’s a coincidence that on September 11th, 2001, we were struck by terrorists an evil that has at its heart the disregard of innocent human life? We who have for several decades killed not thousands but scores of millions of our own children, in disregard of the principle of innocent human life — I don’t think that’s a coincidence, I think that’s a warning. I don’t think that’s a coincidence, I think that’s a shot across the bow. I think that’s a way of Providence telling us, ‘I love you all; I’d like to give you a chance. Wake up! Would you please wake up." – Alan Keyes
Remember: Alan Keyes has a special perspective up there on Mars.
THE IRONY OF PARTISANSHIP when it MUST be exercised, even if an idea by another party makes sense…is noted by Todd Pearson.
