Admin......you are such a wuss.
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How evil are you?
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Not a bad few weeks for this here pissant blog. Since January 1st of this year we have had 87,629 visitors and 352,082 hits. Keep up the posting guys.....we are getting meaningful numbers of eyeballs now.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Pliny: Check this out from today's Wall Street Journal Opinion Journal Best of the Web:"The Tennessean reports that Nashville-area schools are considering a new grading scheme, in which the minimum grade for elementary-school assignments would be a 50. "These are six- to nine-year-old children," Sandy Johnson, the school system's chief instructional officer, tells the paper. "I think we have to be really careful about grading, that we don't do things that really devastate children." All this presupposes, of course, that the kids are too dumb to figure out that a 50 under the new system is the same as a zero under the old one."Original article here.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
�� Monday, February 24, 2003
Meet Deborah Jordan, principal of Abell Jr. High School, Midland Texas. In this Sunday letter to the editor, James C. Ard, a teacher (perhaps ex-teacher at the time of this blog) at Abell tells us about the "high" standards for student performance demanded by Ms. Jordan. Students who make no effort at learning are given near passing grades so that if they decide to make some effort in the future, they will not be held back by their past malfeasance.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
�� Sunday, February 23, 2003
Because France did not currently have a prestigious enough award to confer upon Jacques Chirac for his valiant struggles against the great hegemon America, the French government has commissioned a new medal based upon the well known French "Croix de Guerre" or "Cross of War". Jessica's Well is proud to be the first in the blogosphere to gain an actual photograph of this newly commissioned medal. Ladies and Gentlemen, we present France's newest and most prestigious medal: "The Double Croix de Guerre".
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Gentlemen:
Reading
today�s MRT Letters page (it�s the only rag we get down here), I came across a brilliant piece by one June McBrayer, apologist for her grandson, a Mr. Heineman. If only she�d been available to spin my story I think I�d have made the 7th circle.
Sincerely,
T. McVeigh,
6th Circle, Hell. . . . . . . . . . . . .
�� Saturday, February 22, 2003
Charles Johnson over at Little Green Footballs notices something interesting. German and Palestinian "Anti-War" protestors carrying pre-printed "No War" signs that are exactly alike.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
�� Friday, February 21, 2003
One of two things has happened here. Either Sheryl Crow got a clue or I learned some Photoshop tonight. Smart money is on the latter.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
�� Thursday, February 20, 2003
We have new stuff in the Jessica's Well Storefront! We don't have a tip jar like most bloggers but sales from this stuff helps defray our hosting costs. Take a look here!. . . . . . . . . . . . .
�� Wednesday, February 19, 2003
You must read this great story from Reason.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
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No comment really needed here. Hat tip to Diablogger.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Heard on the radio this morning that the Midland Development Corporation is approving a second "incentive" package for Accutel. They are creating about 60 more jobs. Midland, Texas! Help Desk to The World!. . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Who won the big match-up this weekend? The Protestors or "Kangaroo Jack"? Apparently, it was a tie."Or, to be a bit cruel, the protests attracted about as many people this weekend as the movie "Kangaroo Jack." I'm sorry, but it's true."Read the rest of Ken Layne's post here.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
�� Tuesday, February 18, 2003
New Term of the Week:
"weaselateralism"
Thanks to James Taranto.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Site Admin: I would be willing to bet that the "Buddy West" Leadership Award that was given to....uh, what was the guy's name again?.....oh, Buddy West, is not an award at all. More probably it is the excuse for a fundraiser for the Presidential Museum. It goes like this: Organization needs funds. Organization holds fundraiser that "honors" local pol who happens to be the new Chairman of the House Energy Committee. Organization sends out letters seeking "Sponsors" for event. Non-Idiot businessmen in the energy business regulated by honoree's committee become sponsors of the event. They send big checks, get big tables, and then send employees to attend event. Everybody wins. It is not the Nobel.
But then, neither is the Nobel anymore.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
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I have to admit it. I thought Tony Blair was Bill Clinton writ small. He is not. Tony Blair is a leader. A leader in tough times. Faced with opposition at home he is staying the course because he knows what is at stake and is willing to risk political ruin to defend both his country and Western ideals.
Can anyone even imagine Bill Clinton doing this?. . . . . . . . . . . . .
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A local guy named Buddy West has been awarded the first George E. "Buddy" West Leadership Award. Gee, what do you think the chances of that happening are? Pretty small I would say....otherwise it wouldn't have been the friggin' headline this morning.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
�� Wednesday, February 12, 2003
Say......doesn't "Elvi" have two i's?. . . . . . . . . . . . .
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The television show "The West Wing" is dead......or should be. Patrick Ruffini gives us a look at its replacement: "The Right Wing".. . . . . . . . . . . . .
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I�ve seen it all. Tonight on channel seven news two reporters did a �story� about Valentines packages at the MCM Elegante Hotel. They didn�t even look embarrassed as they sipped champagne in their robes while talking about the price of a massage. They cut to a room where the reporters discussed the �color television of ample size for complete relaxation.� The female reporter actually knelt on the bed. It was the most shameless commercial disguised as a news story I have ever seen. Somebody tell me, could the owner of channel 7 be the same guy who owns the MCM Elegante Hotel? Something about the word �elegante��just oozes velvet Elvi doesn�t it?. . . . . . . . . . . . .
�� Monday, February 10, 2003
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�� Friday, February 07, 2003
You won't catch me linking to the Guardian often, but this article on the general morale and sympathies of the Iraqi army regulars is worth reading."The soldiers Abbas left behind, meanwhile, sit in their hilltop bunkers, pondering an unenviable fate. "We are all very tired," Abbas said. "I haven't heard of Tony Blair. But if George Bush wants to give us freedom then we will welcome it."Read the rest here.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
�� Thursday, February 06, 2003
POW! Right in the kisser!. . . . . . . . . . . . .
�� Wednesday, February 05, 2003
Now that Midland has it's own "Economic Development" sales tax slush fund it is interesting to watch the thrashing around done by other Texas cities that think they need more funds to do this kind of development also. Just today I happened to run across an editorial in a Texas town's local paper advocating for the passing of a bond issue that would generate more money for, among other things, economic development. An excerpt:"Should you [support] a $XXX million bond program, you'll be supporting a plan that addresses public safety, improves cultural, recreational and library facilities, and � most important � stimulates economic development for a brighter, richer future."Sound familiar? This poor town....still behind the times....not having enough funds for economic development....the economic development so critical to its future and survival. Concerns all voiced with the same alarm and urgency that our local paper employed in like editorials.
The town? Freakin' DALLAS.
What? You thought that you were ever going to be let off of this expensive ride? Think again.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
�� Tuesday, February 04, 2003
Now that the bond has passed, the discussion needs to begin on how to improve the actual education of Midland students, because bricks and mortar alone will not do it. For those of you who think our students ARE getting a fine education remember the quiz asked of graduating seniors from Midland High in November, 1999, by Channel 9 News. Among the other brilliant results, only half of those asked knew that thirty-seven percent of one-hundred is thirty-seven. Only one quarter could correctly calculate that half of thirty-nine is nineteen and one-half (they were allowed to use pencil and paper and all the time they desired). Only one quarter could say what is grammatically wrong with this sentence: "Where does he live at?"
Texas Monthly Magazine has recently completed an evaluation of Texas schools, rating them on a five star scale; one star being the lowest rating possible and five stars the highest. Midland High was rated one star, the lowest possible, while Lee High received a better but still inadequate score of three stars. The rankings are adjusted for the number of disadvantaged students in the school. One of the evaluation criteria used by the magazine is the ratio of students taking the state mandated final exam in algebra versus the number passing it. Over one hundred students at Midland High took the algebra exam but only twelve passed. That is pitiful.
Let the suggestions pour in. I will offer this one: School Vouchers of $5,000.00/year for any student. With this system the educrats will at least try to find solutions.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
�� Monday, February 03, 2003
"Members of the CFR could not be reached for comment..."
Boy, that's a first.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
�� Sunday, February 02, 2003
One member of the Axis of Weasels down. One to go.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Saturday, February 1, 2003. The date that Midland's Citizens For Fiscal Responsibility died....and probably took with it Louisa's hopes for an elementary school south of Interstate 20.
Site Admin, you called it here in your post of last September 7th. Perhaps it is you that is all-knowing and all-seeing.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
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This from one of today's Letters to the Editor on Caprock Electric:"About 10 years ago, management and directors instituted a voting by proxy process whereby patrons could designate their votes to a proxy committee controlled by the board in return for a credit on their electric bill. This resulted in directors having an overwhelming number of votes and enabled them to control election of directors and conduct business as they pleased."I take it by the use of the word "could" that this was voluntary on the part of the patrons. Anyone who sells their vote for money can't really gripe about not having a vote anymore....can they?
And from the League of Women Voters:"In addition the LWV opposes choice options such as vouchers that undermine racial integration and/or equal access to quality public education. Vouchers only take additional money away from the already strapped public schools."What? Just because they are "non-partisan" you thought that to mean that they weren't left-leaning? I love the qualifying "equal access to quality public (emphasis mine) education". Vouchers give parents the opportunity to choose and forces competition on the schools. This is good for both of them.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Israeli Astronaut Ilan Ramon carried this drawing into space with him. A haunting graphic itself; the story behind it is even more so. It was drawn by a boy named Peter Ginz who died in Auschwitz in 1944. Now it is lost along with Ramon and the rest of the crew of Columbia.
When computers and communications and mass storage became relatively cheap and easy Project Gutenberg was born. The aim of project Gutenberg was to utilize the mass storage and networking capabilities of modern computers to distribute widely (and therefore safeguard) classic literature. It is with that idea in mind that I post this drawing by Peter Ginz. Download it. Save it. Burn it on to a CD. Send it to friends and family. Make sure it never goes away.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
�� Saturday, February 01, 2003
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of- wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never Lark, or even Eagle flew -
And while with silent lifting mind, I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
- John Gillespie Magee, Jr, 1922-1944. . . . . . . . . . . . .
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The National Organization for Women rates the Super Bowl ads. Could The Onion have done any better than this? In a word, no.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
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