It feels like Winter to me.
What does that mean??? Well, it is ass cold here. I can’t go running. I am in want of sunlight. You know it is bad when you don’t really want to go skiing. It doesn’t help that I’m here in the basement on a bike ride to nowhere. I don’t want to do my job. I don’t want to have fun. I want to sit in my chair and be entertained.
I guess I’m saying that I’m having a bit of the winter blues.....and it’s time to do something about the fact that the kids at school are being jerks.
Frankly, I love seasons. Without the doldrums of winter, the first shoots of spring would not be so magical....the world would not become mudluscious. Without the heat of summer, fall would not be comfortable. Without sweaters....ok, I love sweaters and wish we could wear them every day.
I think I feel this a bit more acutely working in a school. The kids are all itchy. They know that Spring Break isn’t for MONTHS. They know that they have just crossed the half way point to summer break.
They are taking it out on me and on each other.
So, I’m working on all of this. I’m riding the bike to nowhere. Tomorrow, if I don’t go skiing, I’m gonna get some sun before the snow flurries arrive.
I’m gonna force those kids to talk about how they are treating each other.
Yesterday was the straw that broke this camel’s back. There in "Fred’s" locker was marked a giant and malformed penis along with the words "Fred likes dick."
We talked about this today. Really, we just started the conversation. We reflected on what violence was. The list was big. They started with the obvious. We had war, stabbings, guns, bombs, and George W. Bush. Then they got more sophisticated, including things like racism and making fun of each other. We did some activities to narrow down the list, and we talked about the fact that each of us has the power to stop violence.
Then I got really honest about why I was brining this up. I am tired of the fun making, the sexism, the heterosexism. I am tired of "retard" and "faggot" and "bitch." I’m tired of 13 year olds trying out all of the four letter words (even though sometimes it is funny).
So, that was my effort to make the world a better place. It was my big effort today to bring some sunshine into winter.
What did you do today? If you didn’t do anything today, what can you do tomorrow???
And now, tonight’s Top Comments:
All of the good children send the Top Comments they see to TopComments AT gmail DOT com, with a link and their usernames. Have you been a good children?
From vcmvo2:
In a diary mocking the WaPo hit job on John Edwards- here is a comment called "Best comment so far" about the comments the story is receiving on the WaPo blog by mental debris.
From TiaRachel:
From today’s circumcision diary: Thistime's comment, which may require Major Danby's setup.
From Carolita:
From Granny Doc's don't-dare-miss Limerick Friday diary, dozens of brilliant limericks, including this winner by sheiladeedee on who to support in '08, which is followed by a wonderful riff. But my favorite is by darthstar:
I'll start with that drunkard from Yale
At all that he tried he would fail,
He lies all the time,
and Iraq's a war crime,
Why isn't that bastard in jail?
Arthura points out the British experience in Iraq that implies we could be there beyond 2040 in lao hong han's excellent diary Forget "The Jungle." Read Upton Sinclair on Iraq!
Land of Enchantment makes an important correction to the discussion about image use in OPOL's I have but one thing to say diary.
From Elise:
Jay Elias gets frustrated with in-fighting.
MissLaura has some tips on how to find pics you can use without violating the new Copyright policy.
zigeunerweisen has some cheers and jeers...and the cutest kitty pic ever! Look at those eyes!!
Rob Cole has some interesting thoughts on what to do with the 2nd 100 hours.
From bic momma:
Well, due to the lack of everyone once again failing to see the genius in MY comments...I nominate this one form Marc in KS...he had me in tears and it's not even happy hour! Love to Marc in KS....it's in C+J...
Last, and possibly least, my picks:
Claude shares my thoughts about pictures.
Dartagnan shares a Pelosi quotation.
bosdcla14 has some great advice for polsters: remind the questioned who is in power.
Here are a few from PastorDan’s diary Obama’s Religion Problem. More than anything, I liked most of the discussion there.
roonie asks a good question of accountability of DoD.
Tonight’s TopMojo courtesy of BeninSC (Thank you!!! Give that man some mojo!)
Top Mojo - excluding search-identifiable tip jars, first diary comments and C&J comments:
1 Yes. Make it so. --- Delaware Dem - 196
2 Much work indeed --- Big Tent Democrat - 110
3 The world isn't getting raped by science --- Urizen - 101
4 Quick! Someone ask the general who he's taking --- Bob Johnson - 101
5 He lied to Congress --- PatsBard - 67
6 I know lots of wonderful xtians are doing --- Urizen - 57
7 No grand secret - I've been checking --- alba - 55
8 Wait until Bernie gets revved up --- shpilk - 52
9 I love the use of the word "regime" --- adigal - 51
10 I attended tonight's CFL meeting --- lurks a lot - 47
11 Book --- emptywheel - 47
12 not at all --- clammyc - 44
13 heh, and disbar Abu G too --- Pam from Calif - 44
14 Yeah, some people --- JeremyA - 42
15 But you do --- RebeccaDT - 42
16 Tell Us Your Secret: How Did You Find It? --- andyfoland - 42
17 hang on this is a joke right? --- Salo - 42
18 Realistic priorities --- NCDem Amy - 42
19 Friday Nite Left Coast Cee&Jay Extravaganza --- vigilant meerkat - 42
20 this... --- greenreflex - 41
21 We'll need Pat in the Senate to assure --- RudiB - 41
22 This information is very reassuring. --- 417els - 41
23 Thank you. We must not become vehicles --- another American - 40
24 Before anyone gets impeached --- Hang em High - 40
25 This is an unusual interview for JB --- litigatormom - 39
26 If Clark can manage to get the nomination --- movie buff - 39
27 it isn't: --- ScrewySquirrel - 39
28 Hello my pretties.... --- Floja Roja - 38
29 a few things we all need to know --- stonemason - 37
30 I'd rather have Dawkins condescend --- LanceBoyle - 37
Top Mojo - everything included:
1 Tip Jar --- npbeachfun - 430
2 Just don't hate me --- RenaRF - 266
3 Yes. Make it so. --- Delaware Dem - 196
4 tips --- thereisnospoon - 196
5 Tips for truth? --- One Pissed Off Liberal - 118
6 Friday Tip Jar... --- Bill in Portland Maine - 116
7 Much work indeed --- Big Tent Democrat - 110
8 The world isn't getting raped by science --- Urizen - 101
9 Quick! Someone ask the general who he's taking --- Bob Johnson - 101
10 I luv books --- The Termite - 83
11 My Personal Reaction / Tip Jar --- raines - 82
12 No gifts, no meals, no anything . . . --- nyceve - 72
13 He lied to Congress --- PatsBard - 67
14 Cheers! from a recuperating KS! --- Marc in KS - 65
15 Why does Gonzo --- Big Tent Democrat - 59
16 Doggie's "Kos Safe" R&C Friday C&J --- Doggie269 - 59
17 Tip Jar n/t --- Iddybud - 59
18 Please Wes GET IN THE RACE!!!!! --- LeftyLimblog - 58
19 C&J, evening edition --- zigeunerweisen - 58
20 I know lots of wonderful xtians are doing --- Urizen - 57
21 No grand secret - I've been checking --- alba - 55
22 Wait until Bernie gets revved up --- shpilk - 52
23 I love the use of the word "regime" --- adigal - 51
24 First rule? --- nightsweat - 51
25 Your Pootie Pic Du Jour ... --- PhillyGal - 51
26 Tip Jar! --- Elise - 50
27 Tip jar --- elishastephens - 49
28 I attended tonight's CFL meeting --- lurks a lot - 47
29 Book --- emptywheel - 47
30 not at all --- clammyc - 44