The Mathematics of Beauty

With formulas, scatterplots, and data, what's not to love about this article?

They Definitely Want To See Your Stuff

Say you're a decent human and don't want government fools (or anyone else you don't specifically choose) to see your stuff. You might try wearing special undies:

A recent entry into the line of "privacy underwear" was created by Marc Carey, a Kentucky attorney who says his T-shirts, panties and boxer briefs have strategically-placed logos with special ink on them that blurs private parts to TSA agents.

"They're not protest garments, they're designed to be a reasonable compromise for travelers to allow the TSA to do their job, but allow people to travel without a great deal of inconvenience and preserve their dignity," Carey told affiliate WXIX.

Another product that's received a lot of attention is Flying Pasties, or "reusable vanity inserts" that "can obscure your private areas when you pass through airport scanners," according to the company's website.

But passengers should be aware that if they wear such products, they will likely be subject to more scrutiny at the airport, the TSA warns.

"If there is something shielding an area and we don't know what's under it, we have to conduct a pat-down," the agency says on its blog.

"Some might think this is TSA's way of getting back at clever passengers. That's not the case at all. It's just security."

It has everything to do with being vindictive and nothing at all to do with security. The TSA is a bunch of rat-bastards.

Education Buzz

This week's edition is here, and includes my post about putting unprepared students into AP classes and then explaining away their failure.

Wednesday Trivia

The answer to yesterday's question is:
MacArthur—Arthur in the Civil War, and Douglas in World War II.

Today's question is:
Who is Polaroid's official creative director?

Tuesday Trivia

The answer to yesterday's question is:
Dinosaurs

Today's question is:
What was the last name of the first father-and-son recipients of the Medal of Honor?

Governor Brown Talks Money

In this post I stated that I was displeased with Governor Brown's threatening manner of speech. In today's major Sacramento newspaper we get a second helping:

Brown also plans to keep schools funded at the same dollar level they received from the state this year, though that proposal is contingent on whether voters approve higher income taxes on the ballot.

That doesn't sound so bad for education. Let's see what else he has in store:

Brown's budget will include the following program cuts: $1.7 billion to Medi-Cal; $1.5 billion in welfare-to-work; $750 million in developmental services; $500 million each to the University of California and California State University systems; and $200 million through various "reorganizations, consolidations and other efficiencies."

Among those efficiencies: eliminating at least half of the 96,000 state-issued cell phones used by public employees.

The deficit size is a moving target, according to Brown. He says the gap alone is $25.4 billion, but that state leaders need to solve for $26.4 billion to allow for a $1 billion reserve. He also says leaders will need to solve for $27.6 billion if the state does not sell 11 prominent office properties before leasing them back, an issue that is tied up in court.

I know I'm just a lowly math teacher, but that doesn't add up to $25 billion plus, even when you add in this:

Brown's budget will include an 8 percent to 10 percent cut in state worker pay. According to his press release, Brown wants to save "$308 million for a 10 percent reduction in take-home pay for state employees not currently covered under collective bargaining agreements."

So how are we going to make up the difference? Tax increases!

Gov. Jerry Brown proposed a budget today that relies on $12.5 billion in spending cuts over the next 18 months and higher taxes over the next five years to solve the state budget deficit.

Is there really nothing more that could be cut? Really?

Update: I know what let's do. Let's spend even more money!

George Popyack, of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, was explaining how shifting state services to local governments could compromise quality when he was drowned out by hundreds of students descending on the steps for a separate demonstration in support of single-payer healthcare. Reporters and a camera crew turned to observe the students, who were chanting through bullhorns and banging drums.

If government-run programs were the answer to every problem, we wouldn't always hear about funding them by eliminating "waste, fraud, and abuse" in some other government program.

Bowdlerizing Huck Finn

Some idjit is republishing Huck Finn, replacing "nigger" with "slave" (as if they are the same) and "Injun" with--well, I don't know what.

Joanne quotes Chicago columnist Clarence Page--for whom I have some respect, even though I agree with him very seldom. This, however is one of those times, as Page suggests we "teach the conflict". Additionally, I agree completely with the first 4 comments on Joanne's post.

Monday Trivia

The answer to yesterday's question is:
Half Moon.

Today's question is:
On what 1991-1994 television series was the signature line of one of the characters, “I'm the baby, gotta love me”?

Sunday Trivia

The answer to yesterday's question is:
Reading, Pennsylvania, B&0, and Short Line.

Today's question is:
What is the English name of the Dutch East India Company ship, captained by Henry Hudson, that in 1609 reached the location of today's New York Harbor?

Technology, The New Racism?

With views like this, is there anything that is not seen as harmful to blacks and Hispanics?

When the personal computer revolution began decades ago, Latinos and blacks were much less likely to use one of the marvelous new machines. Then, when the Internet began to change life as we know it, these groups had less access to the Web and slower online connections placing them on the wrong side of the "digital divide."

Today, as mobile technology puts computers in our pockets, Latinos and blacks are more likely than the general population to access the Web by cellular phones, and they use their phones more often to do more things.

But now some see a new "digital divide" emerging with Latinos and blacks being challenged by more, not less, access to technology. It's tough to fill out a job application on a cell phone, for example. Researchers have noticed signs of segregation online that perpetuate divisions in the physical world. And blacks and Latinos may be using their increased Web access more for entertainment than empowerment.

Hat tip to NewsAlert.

Putting the District's Checkbook Online

I guess this is one way to accomplish "transparency"!

Saturday Trivia

The answer to yesterday's question is:
A Porsche 550 Spyder.

Today's question is:
What are the names of the railroads in Monopoly?

Are These Kids Our Future?

Reported by al-AP via Yahoo:

Six girls have been arrested after students were invited on Facebook to take part in "Attack a Teacher Day" at two middle schools.

One girl was accused of inviting about 100 students on the social networking website to participate in the event Friday, and the other five were accused of responding with online threats against specific teachers, Carson Middle School Principal Dan Sadler said.

The Nevada Appeal in Carson City reported the girls were booked Wednesday at juvenile hall on a misdemeanor charge of communicating threats. Their names were not released...

The 12- and 13-year-old students were arrested after allegedly posting threatening statements against six teachers at the two schools. One student used the word "die" before a teacher's name, while others wrote that they would "attack" certain teachers, Sadler said.

No specifics, such as weapons or how the attacks would be carried out, were mentioned, said Carson City sheriff's Deputy Jessica Rivera, the school district's resource officer.

Supposedly these were "good" kids, too. News flash: kids make bad choices sometimes. Really bad, stupid, uninformed choices. It doesn't make them bad people, it makes them kids--it's why we adults need to monitor them.

Right Twice A Day

A stopped analog clock is right twice a day, and the CTA is right just as infrequently. Still, when they're right I don't mind acknowledging that, and sometimes in their mouthpiece rag they publish articles that merit praise. The most recent (January 2011) issue, which I've blasted in a few previous posts, contains a series of articles on teachers who are doing great and wonderful things, and this series merits my praise. I'd like to highlight two of the teachers. I may eventually link to the actual pages at CTA's web site, but since I'm having difficulty getting their pages to load (perhaps the RotLC deities are trying to prevent my blasphemy!) I'll just link to the digital version of the hardcopy magazine and tell you what pages to turn to. :-)

One teacher is "Dr. Raja" (see p. 11 of the magazine), who teaches at a local, uh, "not a high-end community" high school:

"His solution to students (sic) failing to understand math included developing a system called CREATE that uses repetition to teach concepts, staying active in class, immediate rewards for success, and employing tough love when students are slacking.

"Dr. Raja believes that learning has to happen in class. He doesn't follow textbooks, assign homework or spend lots of time lecturing to his students. Without homework, he finds students are more willing to pay attention in class. If they have trouble, he will tutor them at lunch or after school...Mostly, Dr. Raja gives them what students of this generation crave--immediate rewards."

There's more detail, but it's nice to read about a teacher who's reaching students.

Another story that really struck a nerve with me was about Kimber Wilkinson, a special ed teacher (see p. 14 of the magazine) who helps her students find and get employment:

"Wilkinson drives Garcia to other stores where she's already applied, to remind employers she's still interested. Sometimes Wilkinson accompanies her inside the business establishment, and other times she waits in the car and lets Garcia go solo. She helped Garcia put a resume together, assisted with online job applications, and conducted 'mock interviews' so Garcia is ready to answer tough questions. Wilkinson also talked with Garcia about grooming, hygiene, and how to exude an air of confidence...

"The students Wilkinson works with have disabilities including autism, Asperger's syndrome, mental retardation and emotional disturbance. Even in a good economy, it would be difficult for some of them to find employment. But despite these barriers, Wilkinson estimates she has found jobs for 60 students ages 16-22 over the past few years...

"Mostly, says Wilkinson, she is teaching her students the art of 'self-advocacy'...."

Hats off to these two teachers, true inspirations.

Update, 1/11/11: Here's the link for the article on Dr. Raja, and here's the link for the article on Kimber Wilkinson.

Friday Trivia

The answer to yesterday's question is:
The Berlin Airlift.

Today's question is:
What kind of car was James Dean driving when he was killed in 1955?

Thursday Trivia

The answer to yesterday's question is:
He died on the Atlantic island of St. Helena on May 5, 1821, during James Monroe's administration.

Today's question is:
What is the common name for the operation known officially as Operation Vittles?

Rabid Partisanship

Do you need a better example than this one?

At the first meeting in Sacramento, budget experts sketched out how the state’s unprecedented economic downturn was exacerbated by elected officials’ inopportune decisions. These decisions include outgoing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first action in office, the slashing of the vehicle license fee, something experts had warned would cost the state billions over a few short years.

Did you get that? The reason California's in such deep crap is primarily because of the reduction in the vehicle license fee. Had Schwarzenegger not lowered that fee, everything would be hunky-dory. What other conclusion could one reasonably draw from this paragraph, quoted from the mouthpiece rag of the California Teachers Association?

California State Teachers Retirement System Lowers Its Projected Rate of Return

California Educator Magazine, mouthpiece rag of the CTA, interviewed two CalSTRS officials about the "state of the retirement fund". My favorite quote is this one:

Will lowering the rate of return mean that teachers inevitably contribute more?

Ed Derman: The lawyers who have reviewed this for CalSTRS have concluded that the contribution rates charged to existing members cannot be increased to pay for the benefits that are already in place. Therefore, existing teachers would not be called upon to contribute more to pay for the liabilities associated with the current benefit plan. Higher contributions can be imposed on new teachers, however, as well as employers and the state. If the rates don't change at all, CalSTRS will eventually deplete the trust fund and retirement costs would fall entirely to the state. The rates will need to go up for new members, because none of us can expect investment returns to generate a double-digit return for the next two decades. However, only the Legislature can increase contribution rates.

There have been proposals for years for teachers, districts, and states all to kick in a little bit more in order to stabilize the fund; the legislature would have to approve this, as CalSTRS officials cannot do so unilaterally.

Remember back when we were being told how rosy everything was with STRS? How could it have been, given this:

What is the amount of the unfunded liability?

Ed Derman: We won't know the current unfunded liability until we complete the valuation — a snapshot of the health of the system — in the spring of 2011. If the new, reduced investment return assumption had been applied to the last valuation, it would have increased the unfunded liability from $41 billion to $45 billion. CalSTRS is currently funded at the level it was funded in 1990.

Since I'm sure no one's been lying, I'll have to try to come up with some other explanation.

Obfuscation of the Highest Order

Let's read what Ole Si Se Puede has to say about McKinley Elementary, the first school in California whose parents have chosen to implement the "parent trigger law" and turn the school into a charter school:

McKinley is actually a school that is a perfect example of how educational change can work when teachers, administrators and parents work together to best meet the needs of students. Although the Parent Revolution was able to target McKinley Elementary because it has not met the statewide API target of 800 out of 1,000 points, McKinley students have been making steady and significant progress for the past three years. And they have been making this progress since the implementation of CTA’s Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA). McKinley is one of nearly 500 schools serving at-risk students that are receiving $3 billion in additional resources over an eight-year period to lower class sizes, align professional development using student data, and create a collaborative approach to reform among parents, teachers and other local stakeholders. The good news is that McKinley’s API score has risen more than 70 points in the last two years alone. With continued progress, and to the credit of McKinley’s educators and the QEIA system, McKinley could be out of Program Improvement in the next few years.

So, what is McKinley's score? And how does McKinley rank amongst other schools in the state? You'd certainly have no idea from reading the above quotation, would you? Well, leave it to Darren to inform you.

Ole Si Se Puede tells us that this particular McKinley Elementary is in Compton, so it's entirely possible that this is the school in question (click on the brown Base button once there). This school is ranked in the bottom 10th of all schools in California (statewide rank=1). When compared only with 100 schools with students of similar demographics, it ranks in the bottom 10th of those schools as well (similar schools rank=1). I'm sure Si Se Puede knows this but of course won't tell you this; it doesn't fit his narrative.

You Can Blame It On President Bush If You'd Like...

...but you'd be an idiot.

When the Pelosi Democrats took control of Congress on January 4, 2007, the national debt stood at $8,670,596,242,973.04. By the last day of the 111th Congress and Pelosi’s term as Speaker on December 22, 2010, the national debt had increased by about $5.2 trillion – a whopping 60 percent increase. The national debt is approaching $14 trillion, about a trillion dollars more than it was just last June! --link