SKevin's Rant

Let me get this straight. Last night on the 9 and 10 o'clock newscasts you led off with the twirl song joke of a controversy in Van, TX over the national economic crisis, the multi big rig wreck that killed several people, the accident involving a DPD officer, and the DISD situation. Please tell me I was dreaming this but I don't think I was.

Plain and simple-twirl mom get together with ape and bannana dad and learn that as a society we live by rules. Rules at school, laws we are obligated to obey on local, state, and federal level, morals, and ethics. Using "there are so many other things in the world to worry about instead of my child BREAKING rules" is a pathetic excuse. Learn to be a parent and not your kids adult buddy.

And FOX 4 - report real news and quit killing our brain cells with such trash non-stories.

I've got to say, its been really cool to see so many on here banding together when it has come to contacting senators/represenatives regarding the financial bailout facing our nation. I think as a whole, we are just fed up with financial mismanagement especially because time and time again we have to step up with our hard earned money to fix things while the few who caused this get to continue to live their lavish lives.

I want to pass on that I would love to see the same effort and energy given towards making our voices known to DISD and their financial fiasco. I know there have been many blogs showing overall disapproval of the school board but there have been no realistic solutions thrown out. The only solution seems to be layoffs and that will greatly hurt the education of our kids. This is right in our backyards, affecting many-teachers, students, staff, and tax payers. The DISD situation is just like our national financial crisis but on a smaller scale. We just have yet to hear any talk of a bailout. I think the same strength in numbers is the only way to get DISD a much needed housecleaning. The kids deserve our voices calling for change and our voices of support because they are the ones who will ultimately be paying-paying way beyond any amount of money.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ok All,

First I posted this in news because Southlake football has become more than just sports-its news. I want to make it clear that I do try to support local sports BUT D Magazine (Why Southlake is better blah blah blah) and just the pedastal that Southlake has been on in general has made me more than ok with tonite's loss. Guess what? It was a reminder that you are not at all immune from being SECOND to best.  No, tonite was not about a championship and as I understand it Florida was coming in first anyway. With that said, your kids, your community, your schools are not better than ours. You are the same as us-trying to teach students so they can prepare for life beyond high school-yes life beyond high school and not just a hyped up football game. Tonight was a reminder that it is high SCHOOL football-you know that SCHOOL building where teachers teach to the TAKS along with reading, writing, and math. Go home tonite, rest and Sunday night crack the books-it is past time Southlake. And what class does your head coach teach outside of football? Not trying to be a smart a_s-more curious than anything.

I am beginning a career as a teacher-TOMORROW.  I want to know this. We can fill out a form that does "something" regarding the tax. There is no way that this form gets rid of it. I have to believe that this form enables us to draw the tax over 12 months instead of an annual bill.  Why pass it through legislation if all it takes is a form to negate it? So with that-20 damn %?  I want to know who passed this legislation. WHO? I am in awe that out of the blue the state has found a way to get more money out of teachers. It has gone from lottery funding education then not to the pay raise offset by higher insurance costs to a 20% excise tax because we work 9 months but get it spread out over 12 so tax it 20%?  I don't get this at all and it is way past time that our worthless legislature and governor answer for this. It might be hard because I am sure they are on summer break. We can't even get them to allow us to draw social security when many of us have paid our quarters into it so why not take more?  Damn sad.