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1 November
2001
A few years ago the state of North
Carolina with all it's wisdom decided that a system of charter schools
would solve the state's education problem. By putting the power of
administration back into the parents hands, these schools would get
public money but with fewer regulations than regular public schools
had. They figured that if public schools had to compete with these
charter schools for both students and money, they would improve. But
the schools are not producing the academic achievement that many
expected. Five years into the study, with ninety-three schools now
running, student scores of the charter schools lag behind public schools
and in some areas significantly. These charter schools are also
extremely segregated, not only by race and ethnicity, but by
socio-economic status. The legislators have made great progress
into raising teacher pay, (still working on it though) but don't seem to
realize how bad the discipline problems in the schools have
become. I remember when I was in school, one person could wipe out
any teaching that may have gone on that day. Until schools get a
handle on how to manage kids these days, it won't get better.
There's even been talk of privatizing schools to be run by businesses.
To me, that's a just a cop out or a way to pass blame.
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2 November 2001
If anyone can explain this to me,
I will give you ONE MILLION DOLLARS. For now, we're going
"camping".
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3 November
2001
Duck dies in surgery to replace beak.
Do it yourself anthrax test.
And I saw gas for 99 cents coming home tonight from the in-laws.
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7 November 2001
Of course I haven't lived in this city all that
long, so I don't understand the ins and outs of local politics.
However, yesterday's elections were a good learning experience for
me. I studied the issues, though they seem mediocre with all the
national stuff going on, and I voted my heart. I liked it because
the new kids on the block won. In the mayor's race, the newbie
beat the incumbent by a 51% to 49% margin. Also, a newbie won the
most votes in the at large city council race. In other local news,
the three term, gay incumbent mayor of Carrboro, Mike
Nelson, beat out Duncan's friend Stacy whom I meet at the first political function I
ever attended. I'm sorry for her but I must say it's nice to see a
gay political figure who's so popular.
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8 November 2001
For years my nickname has been Tick.
(jeeptick, get it?) Since moving to Raleigh, nobody calls me
Tick. Oh well, vengeance is mine because The
Tick starts tonight on FOX at 8:30. One of the best
cartoons ever has finally come to prime time, and of course I'm not
including The Simpsons, Scooby Doo, Daffy Duck or anything in that
caliber.
 
Told you I was a fan.
Tick stickers are rare commodities these days.
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8 November 2001 Later
It was good. I am happy with the job Warburton did
portraying Tick, facial expressions and all. I will sleep soundly
now.
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15 November 2001
 
 
 
 
The Red Wolf
Ramble is on, well it's been on since September. More than one
hundred wolves have been placed throughout the city in the past couple
of months and today, being off, I decided to seek some out.
They're actually very nice. I found them in malls, parking lots,
and by the roads. Each fiberglass wolf was given to an artist,
with the help of a sponsor, to do as they see fit. They were then
placed anywhere and everywhere possible. The purpose of this is to
raise awareness of the red wolf which in 1980 was declared extinct in
the wild. Since then, the red wolf has been reintroduced in North
Carolina and it is estimated there are about one-hundred these
days. Be it my suspicious nature, I wonder if the choice of the
wolf was made for any other reasons such as this, because it could have been this,
this,
or this.
Whatever, it was fun hunting these wolves so when I get a chance,
I'll be doing it again, and maybe even dragging Duncan along.
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16 November 2001
Happiness comes in strange ways to strange
people. This 1947 Esso map of North and South Carolina should give
me hours of viewing pleasure. For now, I will
read UNIX, I suspect it will NOT give me hours of viewing pleasure.
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18 November 2001
For those who were not up at 5am this Sunday
morning after getting home late last night,
you really missed a great show. Meteors were streaking across the
sky at about four a minute and we just stood outside and watched with
our heads tilted back or even laying on the ground. This was even
more spectacular than Hale Bopp from a couple of years ago. With
Hale Bopp, we would go outside in the evenings and watch as it streamed
across the sky. These meteors were streaking across the sky going
thousands of miles per hour, 158,000 to be exact. It was
incredible as were The Little Rascals which I must get back to.
Here's a very small video of what you missed.
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21 November 2001
The Microsoft settlement agreement would give up to $1
billion to the nation's poorest school districts. Red Hat weighs in to
offer it's Linux operating system to allow Microsoft's money to extend
to more hardware purchases. Can you feel the love?
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 22 November 2001
Happy Thanksgiving
I think Thanksgiving may be my favorite holiday. It's a time when
family comes from near and far and there's not a lot of pressure behind
it all. For the past few years, I have spent Thanksgiving with
Duncan's family and visited my family later. This year we will
spend Thanksgiving apart because we'll be out of town
for Christmas and this way we can spend much needed time with
families. Duncan has made nine pies for his big event while I
prefer to pretend to be helpless so I don't have to cook anything.
I will miss Duncan today but I know I'll come home to him when all is
said and done.
Things I'm thankful for today:
- I have a good man who I love very much and that
love is reciprocated.
- I have a great set of parents who I think did a pretty
good job for the most part. They are easy to talk to and
listen to what I have to say.
- I have some great friends who I know will
always be there for me and I know I will always be there for them.
- I have a great place to live.
- I have a pretty good head on my shoulders
and common sense although I don't always use it.
- I have no real physical problems that slow
me down. A lot of people have not been blessed this way.
- When all else fails, the dog will always come over and put her
head on my leg and make me feel better.
- Did I mention the Jeep.
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Later...
I'm full, as it should be. Lots of
turkey, ham, pie, fudge, and family abound. Cousins I haven't seen
in years is a good thing. Oh, did I mention the fudge?
Unfortunately, I forgot to take a lot of pictures but here's a few I did
manage to snap.
 
 
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24 November 2001
It's raining!
HARD! It hasn't rained since early October so I'm unusually happy
about it, well, except the part where I have to force (trick) dog
out to pee. Maybe I'll hit the flea market.
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27 November 2001
This is old stuff, this is even older, but hey, this is even older.
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30 November 2001
Jeeptick
...yea, I'm kinda down because of George Harrison dying.
Aaron: Who's George Harrison?
Rose: You know, the guy from The Monkeys.
Here Comes The Sun
My Sweet Lord
What Is Life
Something
Taxman
Think For Yourself
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Give Me Love
Bangladesh
When We Was Fab
Dark Horse
Bye Bye, Love...
It doesn't matter
if you're the greatest guitar player in the world. If you're not
enlightened, forget it.
George
Harrison
Well, at least one of
my favorite
movies is on. I'd sit back and relax, but when Little Shop
of Horrors is on, I'm the star.
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