http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2014/08/20/tennessee-teen-in-trouble-for-saying-bless-you-after-sneeze/14366865/

"Bless you" is on a list of banned words/phrases in the classroom. So long as an individual is allowed to speak after a sneeze, I don't see how this particular phrase can lead to punishment.

https://www.aclu.org/religion-belief/joint-statement-current-law-religion-public-schools


1. Students have the right to pray individually or in groups or to discuss their religious views with their peers so long as they are not disruptive.

Religious messages on T-shirts and the like may not be singled out for suppression.

from Texas with some parallels to the Michael Brown shooting. One question I have is whether journalists looked through social media for pictures of the individual shot for unflattering ones.

This particular police officer was convicted of involuntary manslaughter when, off duty, he pursued someone suspected of shoplifting, a struggle ensued and the the suspected shoplifter was shot and killed.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2656090/Cop-walks-free-court-despite-guilty-shooting-manslaughter-teen-stole-iPad-case-Walmart.html

picture of someone arrested for murder and saying it is Michael Brown. He has been corrected for over three hours without pulling thread.

https://www.facebook.com/MichaelBerryFanPage/photos/a.363467236699.163471.115017781699/10152312509651700/?type=1&theater

My daughter will be a 11th grader in band and orchestra next year. She has been frustrated by her progress this year in playing the clarinet and violin. She wants to stay with both instruments even though we are not a family with a history of music. Neither my wife nor I have ever played an instrument or sang in a choir. I will not force her to go down to one instrument. Because of health concerns this year I have tried to limit her academics next year as well (only two-three academic courses besides the two music classes). She will have a significant amount of time to invest in music.

We have some contact hours for lessons with professional musicians as well as her lessons with her instructors, but I would like to help her know she is doing well when practicing at home. Does anyone have any suggestions on software or other aids that might assist her in this?

http://amestrib.com/sports/football-isu-spring-game-still-despite-veishea-cancellation

VEISHEA is an annual celebration that includes a bunch of wholesome activities like a magician, a comedian, a musical, several music performances, a Idol talent knock off, pie eating, charity run etc. Apparently all of these things are cancelled because of the riot, but the one thing not cancelled is the one thing probably attended by a good chunk of the rioters - the Spring football game. One football player is even photographed during the riot carrying a stop sign.

Tell me college sports don't dominate academics.

Did anyone else notice that the end tonight was channeling the end Of Mice and Men?

I am convinced the creative team is capable of almost anything at this point. Even more gruesome than the comic. When you have a dirty job just call Carol. In the comic the adults just stood around debating what to do next. It was left for a child to take decisive action.

More Americans than ever enroll in college, but the graduates who emerge a few years later indicate that instead of reducing inequality, our system of higher education reinforces it.

The worst problems, though, occur at for-profit schools like those run by the Apollo Group (which owns the University of Phoenix), the Education Management Corporation or Corinthian Colleges. These schools cater to low-income students and veterans, but too often they turn hopes for a better life into the despair of financial ruin.


A good summary of what is going on with for profit colleges

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/01/college-the-great-unleveler/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

Check out database for default rates. It is truly staggering the amount of wasted money going to Phoenix, ITT, Kaplan, and Devry. It shows how broken our political system is in that we cannot shut this down.


http://www.nslds.ed.gov/nslds_SA/defaultmanagement/search_cohort_3yr2010.cfm

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/grambling-football-disputme-draws-attention-211743385--spt.html

No doubt Jindal and the Republican legislator has gone through the higher education system with a meat cleaver, but Grambling (5,000 students) and Louisiana Tech (11,000 students) are within 6 miles of one another. Why can't these two institutions be merged? Louisiana has a population of 4.6 M with 17 separate bachelor granting colleges/universities. In comparison Iowa has three with 3 million in population. Some consideration should be given for historical black institutions, but do 17 make sense (many in the same city)?

Anyone from Louisiana have more information on this topic?

"You know, y'all going to jail,'' the bus driver says. "Y'all going to jail.''

Looks as if the driver may have been mistaken.

Authorities have recommended that two of the 15-year-olds be given nine months of probation for the attack that took place in Gulfport but circled the nation via video.

*****
First the administration does not take the younger boy's complaints about being approached to buy pot seriously. Then they allow him to ride home on a bus with those he accused. A school employee (the bus driver) takes no physical action to protect the boy from a brutal assault that continued even when the boy tried to hide under the seat (I will give him a break no 64 year old man could stop the assailants without getting injured himself).

Now finally the justice system does not try to incarcerate the assailants. Some many great messages coming out of this community.



http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/to-every-kid-who-wants-to-do-the-right-thing-this-is-the-wrong-message/2137274

I am committed to losing weight. In the past I had a cheap knock off rower and got into pretty good shape with it until I broke it. I just purchased a Concept 2 Model D rower to go along with my 1 1/2 hours a day walking. Once I get some more weight off I hope to get back to slow jogging/speed walking.

I have to work full time, spend about 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day with the kids on their studies, and cook my own meals. I am still committed though. Lots of stir fries using loads and loads of veges with a little meat and currently no grain (plan to add whole grain back in once I lose more weight). No sauces and just a little oil used in cooking. Lots of spices.

My biggest problem is ability to concentrate at work as I try to lose weight.