George Washington is officially off the hook after a book he borrowed from a New York library 221 years ago was finally returned to its rightful place.
Staff at the New York Society Library happily accepted a replica copy of "The Law of Nations" from members of the first U.S. President's Mount Vernon estate yesterday after they discovered he removed it from their collection on Oct. 5, 1789, but never brought it back. Read more about this transgression in The New York Daily News
online.
The AP (5/16) reported, "A new education official charged with closing the achievement gap between poor, minority students and their white peers says the key lies in finding good teachers from diverse backgrounds. Shanida Sharp-Byrnes is the new Diversity Coordinator for the Indiana Department of Education." Sharp-Byrnes says Indiana "has to appeal to teachers' values instead of relying on financial incentives at a time when Indiana has ordered $300 million cut from education funding."
High School Student Turns The St. Petersburg (FL) Times (5/7, Solochek) reports that Land O'Lakes High School senior Ben Hedblom has worn the same pair of black sneakers everyday since ninth grade. "Four years ago, Hedblom made a wager with Spanish teacher Adrian Antonini that he would wear the same shoes through to graduation day. The loser would shave his hair and eyebrows." Hedblom says that "the lessons he has learned from wearing" the now tattered, treadless shoes "propelled him to a perfect score on his senior class project." The project focused "on the psychology behind his effort," namely "the initial perceptions that people had when seeing his ratty old shoes, and how he would persuade them to understand that it's not all about the shoes." Hedblom noted of his four-year shoe experience, "I've learned a lot about self image. You are what you believe you are."
They were probably as close to one another as a mother and daughter could be. I don't know how old Shayla was when her parents divorced, but I am guessing that she was pretty young. Even though her father lived close and they maintained a good relationship, it didn't compare to the relationship that Shayla had with her mother.
A few years ago Shayla graduated from high school and moved away to attend college. I don't know the details at all, but I am sure that Shayla missed her mother and that it was awfully hard for Millie (Shayla's mom) to be without her daughter for the first time in eighteen years. Right around this time Shayla's best friend got married. I am imagining that those transitions were tricky for Shayla.
She didn't stay away all that long. Before I knew it Shayla had moved back home and was working in the local pizza parlor. That's where I would usually see her. We also traded a few messages through Facebook.
The last time I saw Millie in person she was with Shayla. I didn't recognize Millie at first --- she had lost a LOT of weight. She looked great and seemed really proud and happy and confident.
Sheepishly, I approached Shayla and asked about Millie's weight-loss. I wanted to know if it was a topic she'd be okay with discussing… this led to some great email exchanges between me and Millie. She really was proud of herself and feeling good about how she'd changed her life. She wanted to help me and was more supportive than I ever could've imagined.
On April 28th Millie died. I don't know a lot of the details. I do know that she was young. She was kind and sweet and generous. She was loved by so many in this tiny little town and beyond. She'll remain to be loved.
I heard that cancer is what killed Millie. I don't know how true that is… our town is often rife with rumors. The story states that recently Millie had some stomach issues and was quickly diagnosed and then died. I hope that she didn't have much pain. If the story is true I am glad that she didn't suffer with the cancer for any length of time.
Shayla has a nice network of friends, she has a boyfriend, and (I think) an extended family. She'll be okay and she'll be taken care of. She'll never stop missing her mom. That sucks.
1) I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
2). Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
3). I totally take back all those times I did not want to nap when I was younger.
4). There is great need for a sarcasm font.
5). How, the hell, are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6). Was learning cursive really necessary?
7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
9. I cannot remember the last time I was not at least somewhat tired.
10. Bad decisions make good stories.
11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I do not want to have to restart my collection...again.
13. I am always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.
14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry," means I will never wash this - ever.
15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Darn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?
16. I hate leaving my house confident, and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.
20. At my age, I've come to believe that women's restrooms harbor more germs than men's.
21. Sometimes, I will watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea, what, the heck was going on when I first saw it.
22. I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.
23. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I am trying to finish a text.
24. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
25. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still did not hear or understand a word they said?
26. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
27. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty, Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
28. Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber & dumber every year?
29. There is no worse feeling than that millisecond you are sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.
30. As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.
31. Sometimes I will look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
32. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet my behind everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!
"We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by."
ABC News (4/30, Bruce) reported, "The Education Department is rocking the hold line -- entertaining and educating callers one call at a time." It replaced its hold music with "the tunes of 'Schoolhouse Rock'." Deputy Chief of Staff Matthew Yale said, "We're doing everything we can to enhance the culture of the Department of Education, it needs to be a place of innovation and where we're constantly reminded of our work for students." Other "measures it has taken to liven the spirit of the agency and make it more inclusive" includes "a reading series last summer that invited local students to the department to hear stories read by government officials." In "The Answer Sheet" blog of the Washington Post (5/2), Valarie Strauss also covers this story.
USA Today (5/3, Moore) reports as "the result of a student lawsuit, Lower Merion School District has admitted theft-tracking software for the district's 2,600 student laptops activated webcams and automatically snapped photos of kids in school and at home. Over two years, the district captured 56,000 images, including shots of students and the images on their computers." USA adds that in addition to the student lawsuit, there is a Federal investigation underway. The "unusual case of school-sanctioned spying - and the national and international publicity it has caused - has roiled the leafy precincts of Bryn Mawr, Gladwyne and other communities in Lower Merion Township, a well-heeled area of Philadelphia's Main Line suburbs."
