Our Governor gave the “state of the State” address yesterday. He’s calling for layoffs of State workers (because there’s nothing like more unemployment to help out a sluggish economy), cuts to State aid for schools, and, oh, I don’t know, probably tax cuts for rich people or something.
Locally, Syracuse University yesterday announced 48 layoffs (in addition to hiring freezes that have been put into effect). Now, 48 people isn’t a huge number for the largest private employer (second overall) still standing around here, but it isn’t so much how many people are getting dumped, but the fact that Syracuse University – which has been around here since 1870 or so – needs to lay off anybody at all.
It’s not as if they’re sending jobs to India (if anything, they insource students and faculty from other countries), or that they’re producing widgets that they can make cheaper in Mexico. Hell, if they need more money, they can just let a few more dumb rich kids from Long Island enroll. They’re in the midst of raising $1 billion to add to their endowment (they’re more than halfway there), and always have their hand out to the alumni (might as well stop sending that crap to our house; I vowed that that $60 late fee on a $30 balance was the last penny they’d ever get from me, and the College of Nursing that Granny got her degree from doesn’t even exist anymore).
So, it’s just kind of a shocking sign of the times that SU would have to lay people off, even if it’s “only” 48 (which, they say, will save them $8 million this year, and $11 million in 2010). The US corporate/fascist economy is a big scam – a house of cards ready to come in the process of crashing down around us, and things aren’t going to be much fun around here (for us regular folks; the rich people – those that weren’t scammed by Bernie Madoff, anyway – shouldn’t have much to worry about, either from our “don’t tax the millionaires” Governor, or our “I’ll play ball with the Republicans on tax cuts” President-elect).
But, until the Gov decides to lay me off, I guess I’d better get off my ass and get ready for work.
Next week NYC schools will be administering tests to their elementary and junior high school students. In one schools that I work in this year, the kids will be taking practice tests all week. There is a big sign in the entry that has a count down to the number of day until the test. I assume all of this is to make sure that the children feel as nervous as possible. That, no doubt will insure great results.
In the other school the third grade teacher took 2 days off because her dad has a heart attack. The principal, however, is extremely concerned because this is a “crucial” week. They need more test practice. Apparently everyday is not enough.
This is the state of our schools when people who have never taught make the agenda. Everything is based on the outcome of these tests: bonuses, school ranking, the principals’ jobs. Thus the only important thing is learning to take this test.
No Child Left Behind and Mayoral control under Bloomberg should get all the credit.
I’m off to work but I don’t thinkl I will be teaching the third grade class because they can’t take time to learn anything, they need to practice taking the test. The teacher says after the test we can concentrate on teaching.
UPDATE 2-Dell shifts manufacturing from Ireland to Poland
(Maybe they should have stuck to making computers)
I had a computer from Dell
Made in America was the sell.
It had a few bugs.
They supported repugs.
Now their business is starting to smell.
There once were computers from Dell
That were made in Limerick, do tell?
Manufactured in Ireland,
Relocating to Poland,
This story is ringing a bell.
Now if they moved to Thailand I could work on something with Nantucket and Phuket.
Do I have a closet shelf full of sweaters that have come back into style?
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1372744&id=534528062
President-elect chocolates.
Hawaiian Pineapple, Kenyan Coffee, Kansas Corn Crunch and Tennessee Sour Mash.
I’m still waiting for the 24-hour infomercial with Obama chocolate coins.
I thought maybe Obama half moon cookies would be good.
A graphic television advertisement pleading for aid to Israel, which has recently run during Countdown with Keith Olbermann and other cable shows, is the product of a group with close ties to neoconservatives, the right-wing evangelical community and former associates of Jack Abramoff.
snip
The group behind the ad, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, is no stranger to controversy. For example, it has been criticized by Israeli newspaper Haaretz for painting an unrealistically bleak picture of life in Israel in order to encourage donations.
However, IFCJ has enjoyed strong support from such right-wing religious stalwarts as Pat Robertson, the late Jerry Falwell, and Pastor John Hagee
For my fellow NY State residents:
Billions of dollars in cuts to healthcare, education, and hundreds of essential public services. Billions more in mostly regressive fees and taxes, on everything from driving to downloading music to SUNY and CUNY tuition. Instead of soak the rich, it’s soak the middle class.
Isn’t this how the communist revoltution got started?
My computer is back home!
yeah…
:bee:
I don’t blame you for being pissed, Travis. I think it says a lot about you that you want to learn stuff, and aren’t willing to put up with a bullshit course just to get the credits.
Fedex delivered the computer and left it inside in the entryway. Of course, the silly “signature required” condition was reinterpreted to mean that the driver’s facsimile of MY signature was good enough. But, at least having it delivered on Shelter Island meant that it would not be left out in the elements and the threat of having it stolen here is pretty small.
I have given up having anything delivered to Brooklyn unless the carrier is UPS.
Sorry, I deleted 12 and 13. I thought that no one would have seen what I had typed.
I ordered something that was shipped on the 10th of December and it still hasn’t arrived yet via usps.
The Seattle PI is on life support.
I have learned to go to the post office to inquire about packages even if I haven’t received a notice that they’ve tried to deliver it. OFTEN, I find that the package is languishing in the post office and if it isn’t claimed it is sent pack to the sender.
Ooh, I’m typing on the new keypad that HP installed. It’s very nice. All the keys work.
Maron is supposed to be on Opie and Anthony in the morning.
Opie :crap: and Anthony :nuts:
I think Anthony does a passable Imus impersonation and that’s about it. The only two less interesting people are Ron and Fez.
I think I only heard them once when Maron was on. He does seem to be on a divorce roll right now.
hmmm, wonder what time. will have to see what number that is on Sirius. Are they on Sirius?
That’s a shame about the Seattle PI.
Got stopped at the Border tonight. America’s finest are on it – lone woman returning from Canada to U.S. from Bikram Yoga. Wonder how much we’d save if we just called the “war on drugs” won or lost….
Picked up a pkg at UPS central station (missed 3 tries). Their scanners were down so the guy told me to just to take the pkg. (I thought that was nice!) Now i keep getting notices to pick up the pkg. Must say, after seeing how they operate, it’s a freaking miracle any packages get delivered. Seriously.
P.S. Hope your back (and ??) feel better, pj. :billcat: