Mad, adj. Affected with a high degree of intellectual independence.
Ambrose Bierce

Let’s start with education and see if it passes the test.
The Bush administrations No Child Left Behind program is starting to show real results local schools all across the nation. The reading and math requirements of this law are forcing thousands of schools to increase class time on the two subjects and cutting back on the time spent on other subjects. In the case of “low-proficiency students” you know, the ones who go into politics, spending up to three times the classroom hours on just those two subjects. This is known as narrowing the curriculum which trims courses like social studies, science and art to meet the federal requirements to pass tests in reading and math.
Hell, why study history when our leaders are sure to repeat it soon enough.
I live in a county of just over 41,000 people with four school districts. All of them are in financial trouble this year claiming that the voters not passing new levies is to blame. It seems to me that it’s more likely trying to comply with federal and state mandates that come with no funding and relying on property taxes in an area where there are empty houses for sale on almost every block that causes the shortfalls. The funny thing is that all the local school districts have had plenty of money to build new schools to in many cases replace perfectly adequate schools that then sit empty and unsold. The local school district that my kids go to, the biggest in the county, is expecting a $3,000,000.00 shortfall in funding and they have managed to cut about $100,000.00 by eliminating two administrative posts, the middle school principal and assistant principal. I’ve never heard of a school without a principal before.
My son in the 10th grade just took the five tests he is required to pass in Ohio before he can graduate last week, and his teachers spent weeks before not teaching the subjects but teaching the students to pass the multiple choice tests.

Another group of doctors have found an area to spend government grants to study that has had some interesting results. It seems that they have discovered a little tidbit that seems to show that watching daytime TV, talk shows and soaps has been tied to poorer mental scores in elderly women. They seem to score better if their favorite shows are other types. The doctors are quick to point out that there is no proof that watching daytime TV causes these poorer scores. Then what was the study trying to prove?
One doctor said that this doesn’t mean watching Oprah is bad for you. However an older woman’s fondness for the show could signal a problem. Why is it I’m not surprised?
In other news Dubya is getting Gumpier by the second and caused the bullshit levels in Ohio to increase this past week by stopping and opening his cake hole to spout some more stunningly stupid speaking points about his agenda. I can’t even go into it as I already have High blood pressure and too many other health problems.
Maybe if I started watching daytime TV I would start believing the things he spouts lowering my stress levels and improving my health.
Oh well it’s about time for bed so I can get up and do a good job at work.
I need a vacation, but the cruse liner to Mars is not due for about 100 years.