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Just Sven
Editor
10 years ago

Coons…

Hard to believe but the temperature here right now is 86 degrees. Never cooled down and have some Santa Ana style winds blowing. Impossible to sleep so figure I’ll bounce around here for a while and then head into work.

Just Sven
Editor
10 years ago

Loving the NFL’s clown show. Adrian Peterson in Minnesota is out again apparently after Budweiser expressed their concerns. Because nothing says social responsibility and the high moral ground quite like a beer company.

Just Sven
Editor
10 years ago

Like others, Paddy, I’ve wondered too about the true motivations behind this attack on you. Question: on the student side of things, you probably know which ones are lined up against you. Have you been able to monitor their social media and glean anything?

Fatwa Arbuckle: Misanthropologist

Good morning from Humpy Happy Larryville, GN!

Hai, Sven! It is amazing that it’s 86 in the middle of the night there; hope it cools down soon.

Paddy --

Cheers for the update yesterday. By way of Occam’s razor, it seems logical to assume you’ve somehow sullied someone’s cornflakes -- at least in their own mind. It just plain sucks that whatever their perceived beef is, they’re hiding behind the system while using it to screw you.

K8-E --

Congratters on (not at all surprisingly) passing your test. As re embalming fluid, I think that’s what they pack gefilte fish in. (Which is likely why the pawthetic bits of carrot in every jar remain vividly-colored for so long.)

Insofar as the copyright on “Happy Birthday To You” goes, it has long been in contention; the Wikipedia article does a pretty good job of explaining that particular tangled legal web.

Don’t forget, kids: this Friday is “Talk Like A Pirate Day”; shiver me LOLcats!

Fatwa Arbuckle: Misanthropologist

Sometimes-they-really-are-out-to-get-you addendum(b)

Paddy --

Are you aware of any other teachers -- or administrators -- who have been forced out of the school system under shady circumstances in the past several years? (As Mr. or Ms. “Specter” may have pulled this stunt previously.)

Paddy O'Furnijur
Editor
10 years ago

Happy Wednesday, Gerbil Nation!
Good morning, Sven and Fatwa!
It got down to 79° here last night -- as Sven said, it never really cooled off.

Sven -- I’m only certain of one student, who made the initial complaint, and I haven’t been able to locate her on social media. Her report, I think, was an honest mis-perception. Someone from the district was monitoring Twitter at the outset and contacted students to have them delete tweets about me and the situation. Lot’s of students use snap-chat, so that’s a dead end. IOW, I haven’t found anything.

Fatwa -- no, I don’t know of any others.

Fatwa Arbuckle: Misanthropologist

Hai, Paddy!

Someone from the district was monitoring Twitter at the outset and contacted students to have them delete tweets about me and the situation.

If you don’t mind my asking: any idea why?

======================

Just came across this brief article at parody site The Daily Mash: Scotland goes full Scottish:

With one day of campaigning left, the debate is now focused on millions of red-faced maniacs calling each other bastards.

It’s short but funny; read teh whole thing.

Paddy O'Furnijur
Editor
10 years ago

Fatwa -- no idea. I know that some school administrators regularly monitor social media for anything related to students and/or the school.

Fatwa Arbuckle: Misanthropologist

Which seems really creepy to me, particularly given some of the administrators at my J.H.S. and H.S. (And the kids who aren’t using Twitter pseudonyms are also kind o’ foolish.)

My “why?” was more about the administrators contacting kids to delete specific Tweets…also creepy.

[cantankerousoldbastard]

“When I was a boy, we did our best to thwart teh panopticon, not abet it. Damned kids these days!”

[/cantankerousoldbastard]

Paddy O'Furnijur
Editor
10 years ago

They contacted them to delete tweets that were potentially and in some cases actually libelous.

Fatwa Arbuckle: Misanthropologist

Wow. Just wow.

=============

Got a telemarketing call on my cell a little while ago and managed to scare the carp out of the caller by telling her to keep talking for another twenty seconds until I resolved the actual call center location so I could pay them a visit. She hung up on me.

Having a scary-sounding voice is a goodness. 😉

Paddy O'Furnijur
Editor
10 years ago

Heh!
Well done!

Kate
Editor
Kate
10 years ago

They have started voting in Scotland. I am wallowing in Scottish music and memories of Edinburgh, my year there, my friends there and history.
I have been singing Oh Flower of Scotland -- a fiercely nationalist and anti-English song from the ’60’s that has become the unofficial national anthem -- since 1976.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMIAYN0A14A

I remember the first time I heard it. We were at a casual cultural event, totally apolitical, at a social club at Edinburgh University. The organizers welcomed everyone and then the music began. The entire crowd stood up and sang. 38 years ago ( yes, I do feel old noting the year). The passion of the crowd was startling. Way more intense than USA!USA!USA! or even groups singing our national anthem right after 9/11. I understand and even share the nationalism and anti-English feeling. It’s hard not to when you “know your history” and of course my Scottish anti-English sentiment is exacerbated by my Irish ancestry.
but, but, but.
Will an independent Scotland be the best thing for the Scots now? 2014 not 1297 and even then it was a complex question. Freedom from the English vs the prodding to modernity the English tyranny brought. I’m not sure it would be. If the SNP runs Scotland the future will be worse for everyone. If the Scots quickly realize their statist policies are harmful and, like Slovakia, turn away from them, then many more than just the 4 million Scots will benefit.
Note I am not taking into account the effects on English politics. I am too sentimentally Scots and Irish today to care what the fvck happens to England, although I know that will have more impact on the world than how Scotland votes or governs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSH0eRKq1lE

Kate
Editor
Kate
10 years ago
Reply to  Mac

Some are hoping the new Scottish currency will be Whisky-backed. Nothing like having a fine reserve, ya ken?

Fatwa Arbuckle: Misanthropologist

Hai, K8-E and Mac!

Groundskeeper Willy on Scottish independence:

Kate
Editor
Kate
10 years ago

If only my Scots would hae put Willie up for PM! Tae loss dinna bear thinkin on.

Kate
Editor
Kate
10 years ago
Reply to  Mac

Mac! I hope Elena is feeling better now that her shoulder is back in the right place. She didn’t trip over a frog, by any chance? Rana!

Paddy O'Furnijur
Editor
10 years ago
Reply to  Mac

Pass on my prayers for a full and speedy recovery to Little Mouse. I hope she can rest comfortably tonight.