Category: Random thoughts

Dave Lieber, columnists for the Star-Telegram in Dallas, reports on a Richland Hills Middle School student who was suspended for three days for sending the message “Hey” to the 80 computers at the school.

That’s it. “Hey”.

The principal of the school saw the message himself and took no notice of it until Beverly Sweeney, the school’s computer teacher reported the “serious” nature of the crime to him.

See, Ms. Sweeney believes that using a DOS function is hacking. She wanted to send the message to all students that “hacking into a system should be highest on the list of tampering violations.”

The problem is that the student did not hack into the system. He had permission to be on the computer and did not do any damage or tamper with any functions. When Sweeney found him, he readily admitted to sending the message.

The school has no policy on sending messages using legitimate functions of the computer.

Now, another bureacrat’s self-righteous indignation has punished another child.

Yet another example of why all states need school vouchers.

In my younger school days, I thought of the United Nations in idealistic terms. I thought it was an organization whose purpose was to promote peace through democratic means.

Now, I think the United Nations is a fool’s dream.
Read Max Kampelman’s article and you will see the injustice promoted by the U.N. Libya as chair of the Human Rights Committee? That’s putting the fox in charge of the hen house. Yet anti-war types demand that we seek this organization’s permission before we use force.

Some say we should leave the U.N. I don’t go that far. We should stay and use our influence to change the U.N. Max Kampelman’s idea of creating a Democratic caucus is sound. That is if we can convince the weak-knee Europeans (the democracies that abstained from voting against putting Libya a chair on the Human Rights committee) to go along with us instead of cowing to small dictator states. (Pansies)

Yesterday I resolved to make a resolution. I even followed through. I resolved to get off my butt and go to grad school. Today I made an appointment with an enrollment counselor at Regis University.

Now I just need to figure out a way to pay for it. Anyone know any companies with good tuition assistance?

Its a new year, the time for resolutions. I never make resolutions.

So this year, I resolve to make a resolution.

OK, that’s done.

Britney Spears will gain 150 pounds, take to wearing muu muus on stage, and demand to be respected for her talent. Meanwhile, Christina Aguilera sets a record for most body piercing before dying tragically when all the piercings are simultaneously ripped from her body in a tragic giant electro-magnet accident.

Osama bin Laden will be convert to Kabbalah and record a duet with Madonna that will debut at #1 in France.

PETA will boycott Orkin pest control as cockroach mass murderers and call for a U.N. tribunal to try the “Orkin Man” for crimes against bug-manity. (OK, so not all these predictions are unlikely).

Hillary Clinton will decide to take a hard line against all terrorist supporting countries in her new book “It Takes a Nuke”.

George Bush will win 47 states in the election after Howard Dean admits he has no idea about foreign policy. OK, Dean won’t admit that, but the electorate will realize it and Bush will still win 47 states.

Major League Baseball players will realize their contracts have gotten out of control and are harming the game. The union will threaten to strike if their demand is not met to restructure their contract to limit the money their players can receive – and the Palestinian Authority will condemn suicide bombings.

I will land a job as a columnist for the Wall Street Journal. My witty writings will gain the attention of a high profile producer who will use my articles for a new TV series that will be the most watched premier ever. The contract will make me rich, but after the first 6 episodes the writing will become shoddy and cliche leading to a cancellation after the first season. Reruns will live on and become a cult classic.

I’m back from my vacation.

We had a great time after we got over our sicknesses. After Christmas Honeybun and I went to Phoenix to see my father’s wedding. We met family I hadn’t seen in 20 years.

I also hadn’t been in Phoenix since 1991. I know everything changes, but wow! The neighborhood I grew up in is hardly recognizable. The biggest change I saw with the size of the city. I’m amazed at how much it has grown – while taking for granted the immense growth in the Denver metro area where I live now.

Phoenix is still a great city. I’d live there again if it weren’t so damn hot in July and August.

Well it’s Christmas day and the rituals are nearly complete. We got up early and unwrapped all our gifts and stocking stuffers (all in our pajamas). My in-laws really know how to bring out the excitement of Christmas. Its contagious.

After the gifts was the traditional (for us) breakfast of egg casserole (with green chili and sausage) and cinnamon rolls. Mmmm…cinnamon rolls.

Now there is nothing left but waiting for the weight gain. Ahhh, I love Christmas.

Honeybun is still nauseous with flu like symptoms, my head is still a snot factory. But its CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas everyone.

So we’re here in warm – 60 something – Las Cruces. The Luminarios are around the in-laws place waiting to be lit at sundown. Christmas eve dinner is being prepared.

And wouldn’t you know it, Honeybun and I are both sick. She is feeling like she wants to throw up everything she has eaten in the last 6 months. I’m feeling like my head is one big snot factory…wait a sec (snooooorrrrrt). Ah better for a little while.

It’s been a year since I’ve had a vacation, and I’m sick. Great.

Well at least we are with family. Merry Christmas everyone.

Well, probably won’t blog much for the next two weeks or so. I’m going on vacation with Honeybun to Las Cruces, NM for Christmas. After that, we will head over to Phoenix, AZ to see my father’s wedding.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Birmingham, Alabama Clay-Chalkville High sophmore Ysatis Jones has been suspended from school and told she must attend an alternative school for a month for commiting a “major drug offense”. She took Motrin for menstrual cramps.

Attending the alternative school would put Jones, an A-B student, in classes with children who committed offenses such as battery, arson and possessing illegal drugs.

Proving once again that people who cannot use critical thinking skills should not be given the responsibility of educating children.

When are parents going to fire the public schools?