SKevin's Rant

Yes, its been a while but I just can't stay away.

I teach and here we are back in the school routine. I got home today and saw the news-100 or so kids sent home for violating dress code. They had the wrong belt on which violated dress code.  Good for the principal for sending them home since it is policy. Parents were on TV and at the school mad and upset.  Hmmm...

My question is this. The parents are all up in arms on this. They even went to the school to make their voices known even though the dress code cleary states what is and isn't appropriate. Would these same parents come to the school if a teacher called wanting to talk/meet about a homework or grade issue? Considering DISD's stellar grade policy I think the answer is obvious and in all of this the kids are the one's getting the wrong message, the wrong support, and the wrong ideas about real life.

 I am thankful each day I teach in a district that is not DISD.

Discuss...

 

That's right-you don't need alarm clocks in Corinth. Corinth has even taken care of this for those in Lake Dallas who border Corinth. Why do you ask?

Corinth has a construction/building policy that allows contractors to work from 7AM until 9PM 7 days a week. So what does that mean?

It means that those near sites like the posh hotel being built at Swisher and I-35 get to wake up to hammering, beeping of fork lifts, horns, and other great construction noises. Get this-many of the workers are so excited to work that they actually start at 6:45 AM. Yep-so Saturday morning at 6:47 we woke up to the pleasant sounds of progress and Sunday morning at 6:43 it was the same thing. It has been for weeks. What is really great is that on Saturday they stopped around noon so they could have their afternoon free of noise. Sunday, though, they put a full day in.

My wife and I teach. Like many others in the neighborhood by this project, we work days and the weekend is our chance to catch up on rest. The city council didn't really consider this as they think this policy to be reasonable. We wouldn't have much say with the council anyway since we live 75 feet from the Corinth line in Lake Dallas. And it won't be just us. Eventually this project will be done with a bank next, then they will do it in another area affecting another neighborhood.

Would it have made a little more sense to say work is allowed from 8AM until dark Monday through Saturday and 9AM until dark Sunday? How much thought went into this? Is it worth disturbing this many residents? I wonder what noise ordinances Lake Dallas has? Maybe the noise from this is violating a Lake Dallas noise ordinance. I would have great faith in my city of Lake Dallas if they had something on the books to address this, but then again with small town politics who knows?

I would just love for someone on the Corinth city council to explain how this is reasonable for all. Explain how this policy benefits anyone other than developers.

I want my sleep and my alarm clock back.

Yes, its me-on the road with you. I get up as many of you do and I get ready to drive in from Lake Dallas to Carrollton to teach. I usually head out around 5:55AM as many of you do too. I wanted to let you know that I have a wife as many of you do. We don't have kids, though, except our students. We have 2 dogs, and both of our extended families are pretty big. Why do I tell you all of this?

I do, because just like you I have to get from point A to point B. Its like a battle zone, though on I-35. The large pickups, luxury SUV's, and luxury sedans, and just cars coming from Corinth and Denton love to ride up on people. The speed limit is still 60, though. Just for them I'll do 63 or 64 but no more. Yes, I know you will ride up on me and don't worry, I won't slam my brakes on. I quit that years ago. It just makes you more irritating that you already are. I just let off the gas now so be wary.

That Interstate Battery pickup truck (a company vehicle)-I seem to see you most mornings weaving in and nout of traffic. It would be nice if you would slow down too.

And then the big rigs. The entrance ramps near Denton are short-very short. Its kind of scary with you in the right lane as we try to get on via those short ramps. You tend to not care and would rather see us run into the shoulder and grass. It would be nice if you would plan accordingly.

My point of all of this is we all have our lives and part of those lives is spent driving. No one's life-their breath, hearbeat, feelings-their life is no more or less important than yours. When you put yourself ahead of everyone else by speeding, weaving, riding up on people, not yielding, not stopping or slowing and not being courteous to other drivers you are saying your life is more valuable than those around you. Reality check-its not true.

Slow down Denton county.

Just a short thought. I was thinking about the tax rebates many of us are getting. It seems like a really great idea and all but are we in reality just transferring it to the oil companies? Everyday the gas prices go up and I am sure quarterly earnings for the big oil companies are due soon. I am guessing record profits for them AND we will just add to it through our tax rebates. It seems kind of relative-into our pockets for a short time then we pay off our gasoline cards. In a sense our tax rebates-the "stimulus package" will be stimulating the pockets of the oil companies.

How much longer do we have to take this?

I was curious. I have been following the stories on the truckers having a three day "strike". I can't blame them at all. They are out there trying to make ends meet and gas prices are just killing their business. Good for them for taking a stand. I just don't know if it will do much in terms of getting the attention of Congress or the oil companies. It will get the attention of the media and maybe we will have a day or three of lighter traffic on the highways. We will pay for it when we hit the stores though.

I know many gripe about government involvement in business. Free enterprise is the American way after all. The government does regulate utilities, though. Why is gas/oil not regulated as a utility? Why are the oil companies allowed to make record profits when the US economy is so unstable? Something needs to be done and I, for one, would love to see Congress step in and regulate prices on gas. I know the catch is we are totally dependent on oil because as a nation we love our cars. That is quite a weakness, though, and one that is tearing this country up from within. The ripple effects from high gas prices will affect us for years to come unless something is done.

My wife and I have lived a little over a year in Lake Dallas. We are about 150 feet from the Corinth city limits. The greenbelt behind our house has a view of Corinth and now a view of a hotel and bank that are being built at Swisher and I-35. We understand that prgress is inevitable BUT we have some concerns.

1. The huge amount of trees they took out that included some that border the greenbelt. The trees were on the site which we understand but many were bordering the greenbelt and fell because of careless raizing on the site.

2. The runoff to the greenbelt is now substantially changed. Last year when we had all the rain we did during the early summer we NEVER saw the greenbelt flood like it does now in only a minor rain. The construction site, new pavement, and drainage has made the runoff bad in the greenbelt. We are concerned about this because when we purchased the house, it was NOT considered to be on a flood plane. Now, who knows? NO REPLY from Corinth

3. Construction itself-it goes some nights until 9PM, Sundays, whenever. NO REPLY from Corinth

4. The view. We have inquired about the construction company finishing a brick wall they started on the north side of the site that would block the view of the site providing privacy for hotel guests and the homeowners as well. They built it for the Corinth side of the site but not the Lake Dallas-yet it's a Corinth approved building project. We have also asked that some of the trees be replaced along the border to the greenbelt. NO REPLY from Corinth.

I can accept that construction happens. What I can't accept is that the City of Corinth-from the city manager to the public works department, to various building departments ignore emails and do not return calls. Same for the construction company. We need to know from the city of Corinth if a runoff study/survey was done to see how construction would impact the greenbelt water flow. It has changed and we have an issue if such a project changes the flood status of our home.

I am asking if anyone who is on here and lives out there knows how to get questions answered in small towns with the big city mentality-Corinth. I have thought about sending this to Saul Garza. I mean, if a xeroscape yard controversy in Corinth can make FOX 4 news, surely something like this can be looked into. We just need to know something.

Now that we have made it through this really neat snow storm, I have to ask drivers in Denton county a question. I drove in yesterday in the snow and I got out and drove to my middle school this morning. Those of you who flew past me in your oversized trucks and SUV's-did you make it to where you were going? Did you make it without hurting anyone or causing an accident?

I guess its a DFW (especially Dallas) thing and I am Dallas born and raised. I also was fortunate to have had a career at UPS in the early 90's where I got to go through their driver training program and learn all kinds of essential driving skills. Anyway, is it a Dallas thing to really think that your huge pickup or or luxury SUV is well suited to fly on ice/snow/slush covered roads? I live in Lake Dallas and one thing I hate about it is it is almost like battling the roads in Plano. I would have never thought that but here I am seeing it.

I hope you all made it where you needed to go in such a hurry and I hope you did so without hurting anyone. The point is simple-snow, rain, or sun just slow down. There is no reason for you to put your hurry in front of our safety on the road.

 

Not too long ago GM announced cutbacks and layoffs. I know why. It is because they spend so much money on their advertising. "Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States"...followed by the beating that is the GM President's Day car sale commercial. Its on about every 5 minutes or so on FOX 4 for sure and I would assume all other channels as well.

With all that advertising money being spent, one can't help but wonder how many hourly line worker salaries that advertising money being spent on TV spots would pay. President's Day was Monday. One would think the sale would end then, too. I am sure within a day or so will be the re-vamp commercial and the President's Day sale being extended along with the running of the commercial. Nice way to budget GM. I am sure your hourly workers really appreciate your efforts to take care of business as they decide what to do with their futures.

I was wanting to know if anyone had used FTD flower delivery for Valentine's day yesterday. I ordered a real nice bouquet for my wife on February 6th for a February 14th delivery. I paid for it including a hefty delivery charge. It didn't make it. It was one of those awkward things because I wanted it to be a surprise since she had to work last night and I would not see her.  I didn't ask her until this morning and it did not make it to her school. I have not had a problem before with Valentine's deliveries so this is a first. Then again this is my first time using FTD instead of another company.

I have tried their customer service and there is a recording saying they are too busy to answer calls. They suggest internet follow up. I did that, too, 3 times beginning yesterday afternoon. No email reply yet. I am thinking I need a refund since the effect is kind of over now.

Anyone have a similar experience?

 

I am curious as to how gas prices work. We have all had to suffer through the high gas prices as of late-especially late summer. Fall comes and a leaf may blow into a refinery so prices need to go up. Winter comes and it gets a little cold plus people may drive to relative's homes over the holidays so prices need to go up. They stayed up. A ripple effect happened with airlines raising prices to offset fuel costs. Milk prices went up-I guess because of the leaf in the refinery or something.  All kinds of prices were raised because of fuel prices and then Exxon released its earnings. They had record profits-imagine that. Then gas prices went down not too long after Exxon's earnings were released. Life is good again.

So is there a correlation? And now Exxon wants to spar with Venezuela. Are they doing this so they can create some kind of scare to drive gas prices back up? Are there any economy buffs out there who can explain gas prices or should I just know that cold weather, a possible hurricane somewhere in 2008, falling space debris, and all kinds of fear are the real reasons gas prices go up.

Ok smokers-justify yourselves. It is on the news that a "careless" smoker started at least one of the major wildfires. I had wondered about that. I can accept train sparks or maybe some kind of car exhaust malfunction starting an accidental fire. I have a hard time accepting that a "careless" smoker did. We have to accept that smokers have the right to destroy their bodies-its freedom after all. Those of us who don't smoke have to put up with being around the poison smokers add to the air but some cities are working on that. We even have to put up with our tax dollars supplementing insurance so smokers destroyed innards can be taken care of. What we should not have to accept is smokers throwing a lit torch out their car windows starting fires-taking away people's homes, businesses, possessions-their lives as they had them.

I don't get it-you can blaze up and put posion in your body yet you cant put the butt in the ashtray. What? Is that too nasty for your car? And I see many who can't even use an ashtray or ashcan-the ground seems more suitable. Its sad and pathetic. There should be state law that ups littering fines to the THOUSANDS for throwing a lit cigarette out a car window. "Careless" smoker? No-I'd say more like  selfish and heartless. Quit throwing your lit torches out of your car windows!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, let me understand this. There is a proposal to add a 40 cent gas tax to help rebuild and fix roads all over the country. I know Texas is not the country BUT wait, isn't Texas the new home of the toll roads trend? Don't we pretty much have to pay to use many of our roads anyway? Aren't we on the path to have to pay to use even more roads up the road (pun, lol) So, we have a new 40 cent gas tax PLUS tolls on many of our roads AND Exxon, Chevron, Shell, and others gouging us while making record profits all in the name of fixing a pot hole, striping a road, or buiding ramps, bridges, and roads? Dart is a mess as is DCTA. The NTTA is a mess too, building toll roads that need repair within a year or so (George Bush Tollway) along with their interesting yet wasteful practice of very high spending on landscaping and sprinkler systems to maintain those interesting landscapes. Up here in Lake Dallas, we have the DCTA trying to build a commuter rail line in our backyard with diesel trains that no one will use. The point is our transit system is a mess, both "free" and toll. Throwing them more money in the guise of a tax only gives them more money to abuse. Politicians, engineers, politicos, and watchdogs need to step up and re-evaluate this propostion. They need to gather and find a solution that will work. There is way too much money tied to our transit infrastructure already that is not being used properly. Fix that, show us, THEN maybe we can talk about more money.

I need to know ASAP if American Idol is on (still). I have been teaching all day and have not been able to keep FOX 4 on. We do have TV's in our room but administration frowns on having anything but the clock on. Since I have been away from FOX 4 for hours, I have not had the minute by minute reminders and coverage on American Idol's debut from FOX 4 News. How about the American Idol weather coverage? There has to be some kind of traffic that might affect American Idol viewers. Where is the Idol traffic update? Has anyone gone to Valley Ranch to get the American Idol sports angle from the Cowboys? Afterall, they now have time to watch and vote. Is anyone from FOX 4 News in Michigan talking to the candidates about American Idol? Send Steve Egar-he'll ask the candidates tough Idol questions. I know all news in Dallas stopped today so we can get it as the top story on Fox 4 News. Are we all set? Is it still on? Where is my Idol Insider? I am freaking out....

I am curious. Kieffer Sutherland gets 48 days for DUI (2nd). Why did Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton essentially get to choose their own sentences when it came to repeated violations? They saw very little jail time. Is there a media camp outside Kieffer's jail documenting his every moment? Is Jack Bower just not enough to garner such attention? I just don't get how what he did is any different than the others. He is serving his time-why couldn't they? Beyond all of that is that reality of the common man is that (male or female) and in the same situation it would be a much harsher sentence than 48 days. I commend him for at least meeting his obligation though I hate that he created this whole situation for himself. Maybe if he had cried and held a toy poodle he may have had it reduced to 48 hours. That would not work for any of us though.

Many of us who had to work our way home during the accident on I 35 with the tanker truck had to endure more than just lost time. We had to endure one sad excuse after another of drivers who should not be on the road. Those dozens of you that were headed north and thought your time was more valuable than anyone else's and chose to ride the shoulder should be ashamed. Some of you flew by with no regard to stalled cars or the parked cars at the Lewisville bridge (north bound side). You risked their safety and ours on the road because you wanted a few car lengths more. Those of you that took the exit to Sneaky Pete's so you could U-turn and go further on the access ramp are just as pathetic. Motorcycles who valued their time more than ours ran in between lanes and on the shoulder as well. What makes your time in this any more important than ours?

I will also say the Lewisville PD was laughable with their command center at FM 407 and your eager to visit (with one another) officers who were just sitting there. You were too busy admiring your RV command center when you should have been out there providing support. You should have sent 2-3 units out to sit horizontally on the shoulder through out the backup to put stop to and ticket the drivers who was so blantant about riding the shoulder  breaking the law and endangering other drivers.

Sad sad, sad, Denton county drivers. I hate that I have to share the road with those of you who think your time is more valuable than the safety of others.