No Habla Ingles....

Really? We need a law passed to make sure this happening? Now, I love the United States, and despite our problems, we are STILL the best country in the WORLD, but COME ON! I appreciate the fact that in a global economy and in a world where many cultures can be represented in one area, more than one language is likely to be spoken. I see great value in being fluent in more than one language. I wish I was! I support offering foreign languages in all schools, at all levels. However, we're in America, and if you don't want to learn English, you need to leave. Same rule should apply if someone moves to Germany and doesn't want to learn German. Of COURSE you should have to speak, read, and write in English in order to graduate. How in God's name would a student a be able to make it through all the years leading up to their Senior year without being able to do this? Oh, that's right, political correctness. We don't want to offend, so we have to offer the same curriculum in multiple languages. This will require more teachers (unnecessary teachers because this shouldn't be happening) and the teachers we DO need will suffer. Bottom line: if you leave your country of origin to go anywhere else (whether it be America, Spain, Italy, etc etc), you need to learn THEIR language.

I understand that people will argue that English is spoken globally so we don't understand, etc, but I don't buy it. Yes, it is spoken globally, but these countries that teach it aren't giving up their own languages and we aren't moving there expecting them to cater to us. What about our ancestors that moved here and worked their asses off to learn the language?  We offer so many ESL programs in this country that it shouldn't be an issue. Look in the job section of any paper or any online job site, ESL jobs are ALWAYS in demand. As for those people who won't learn,  it's pure laziness and/or arrogance and we're allowing it to happen. Kudos to New London, but at the same time, I'm sorry that we needed a mandate to make this happen.

-KC Jones

Check out the entire article at:
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/New-London-Graduation-Requirement-Speak-English-121883654.html

New London Graduation Requirement: Speak English

Only 16 percent of 10th graders test at the highest levels.

Monday, May 16, 2011 | Updated 6:46 PM EDT

The schools superintendent says, beginning in 2015, students must be able to read and write English in order to graduate.

By LeAnne Gendreau

Students in New London will not only have to pass English to graduate, but they will have to prove that they know the American English language and be able to demonstrate it as of 2015.

The board of education on Thursday approved the major change to city education policy, according to the Day of New London.

The student body includes immigrants from 28 countries, the Day reports. And the school district Web site includes translations in 52 languages.

"We know from colleges and employers, that our students are going to have to know how to read and write in English if they are going be successful," Supt. Nicholas Fischer, told the Day.

That is not to say that the school is instituting an "English only" program in which where students are told they can only speak English in the schools. New London's program is a literacy program in which students will be required to achieve a certain level of English reading and writing literacy by the 10th grade.

The school system will offer several ways for students to fulfill their English language requirement and they have until the age of 21 to meet it. One community leader has no problem with testing students in English, but was concerned about students making it to 11th grade without being able to speak the language. "It's good that we are raising standards, and I don't see a problem with testing," Elizabeth Garcia Gonzalez, executive director of Centro de la Comunidad and a former school board president, told the Day.  "But I have concerns about a student who comes into the high school at 11th grade and can't speak the language."

The state department of education does not have a policy of this kind.

*Big Ran Note:

Hide Yo Kids, Hide Yo Wife, Cause the Rapture Takin' Errbody (Well, Some I Guess)

It figures I schedule a weekend getaway with my wife on the same day as the rapture.  The traffic is probably going to be terrible.  Good thing I booked the hotel like six weeks ago, huh?  Do you think God will be pissed that I planned on spending this weekend touring breweries, napping, and going to restaurants, while he is getting his rapture on?  Like, I'm not going to interfere at all and I figure that if anything, there will be shorter lines throughout the course of the weekend. 

Now I went to Catholic schools through college, (K-16 baby!) and I don't know my Bible so well, but why would the Rapture be on a Saturday?  Is it because God wants to get it done so he can rest on Sunday?  One of my favorite weekend activities that I can never really pull off anymore is napping on my couch while sort of watching a Red Sox game, so maybe God likes to do that too and wants to get his work out of the way on Saturday.  That makes sense.  However, I feel like he should give people one last chance to get to Church on Sunday, like cramming for a big exam.  I think a wise and benevolent God would do that.

What's everyone planning to do for the Rapture?  Anyone having a party or anything?  

-Big Ran

KC Jones is also wondering how the Mayans feel about this as they are predicting 2012 as the end of the world. Someone is clearly wrong and I guess we'll find out come Saturday. I think the Big Guy knows what he's doing and clearly he's having a good laugh up there as he watches some of His creations posting billboards and making signs to prepare for the end....anyway....um, I gotta go, I think I just saw a locust scamper past my cube.... YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

Humpday Holla-back

In honor of the end of days (well, that's what it seems like here in Massachusetts), I'd like to jump start everyone's day with this little ditty. A little Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott looking like a giant spider in her trash bag outfit with her hair greased up nice and snug against her head and face. Then of course are the shots of her in her brightly colored get ups. This video is just terrible, and I've thought that since the first time I saw it many years ago. I remember sitting in disbelief when she won "Moon Men" trophies at the MTV Video Awards.  However, given the current state of affairs weather wise, truer words have never been spoken. Missy, I feel you, "I can't stand the rain" either.




-KC Jones

Lunchtime Look-a-Like

Yup, that's right, you saw it here first. I've been anxiously awaiting my opportunity to post this since it popped into my head yesterday afternoon. I've had this post ready to go since last night, so there was no way I could wait until noon to hit the post button---so an early lunch it is!

Am I right, or am I right? Personally, I HATE the original "Three Stooges" because they are annoying, obnoxious, nonsensical, moronic, and overrated. Ironically enough, I hate the Three Stooges 2.0 for the same reasons! The only question is, which set is the bigger group of clowns?

The (Big) Three Stooges

The (Original) Three Stooges

In addition to getting plenty of air time on television, both sets of stooges have devoted followers and plenty of merchandise available:

Baby Bron, D-Bag, Bosh-collect all three!

Moe, Curly, Larry-Value Pack!

Moe treats Larry & Curly the same way Bron treats Wade and Bosh!

Hey Bosh, this is an NBA event, not a Black Panther rally!!

-KC Jones

Office Etiquette

Let me preface this post/rant by saying the following: I'm foul today because it's Tuesday and not Friday and because I wasn't aware that I moved to Seattle. I'd go so far as to say I'd rather be getting water boarded than be at work today...oh wait, I can be water boarded, I just have to go outside real quick.

Ok, so, meetings are common in any office as my man Big Ran has mentioned before. They are also stupid, and he covered that quite well. This post relates to where meetings should be held. The answer is simple---in a conference room or in someone's office, where a door can be closed. There is NO need to have an impromptu meeting outside of someone's cube and disrupt EVERYONE in the area. I'm fairly laid back when it comes to noise in the office because 1. I'm loud and 2. It's just the way it is when you have that many people in a cube farm. However, meetings in or outside of someone's cube are just unacceptable. Each person is talking over the other people and with each word it seems as though their volume gets louder and louder. If you are nearby, you can forget about doing anything that requires concentration and you'll have to put any conversations you'd like to have on hold until the meeting of the minds is adjourned.

Correct

INCORRECT!

You might ask, 'what if there are no conference rooms or offices available?'. My solutions are simple: First, the meeting can always be postponed until one is available because (and I know a lot of people in offices forget this) we aren't saving lives. Nothing is EVER THAT URGENT. I'm all about efficiency and results, but you know what I mean. Secondly, if the matter at hand is that critical (which it's NOT, but I'm just humoring the d-bags of the world), go to a common area like the cafeteria, kitchen, or even a frigin hallway. Anywhere where you're NOT going to aggravate EVERYONE in a 1 mile radius. Actually, maybe the handicapped stall in a bathroom would be a good place. I've noticed that those are extremely roomy. Maybe slide in some rolling chairs, etc. You could easily fit 4 or 5 people in the handicapped stalls in my office.

Happy Frigin Tuesday!

-KC Jones

Breaking News

1. It's never going to be nice again, at least not in Massachusetts.I'm sure that the sun in the background on Friday and Saturday is just to humor us and to prevent the suicide rate from jumping drastically.

2. On a related note, I think I speak for most women when I say I love looking like Buckwheat when it's like this outside.

-KC Jones

Adrian Gonzalez is the Tits!

*KC Jones says: On a related note, while Adrian might be "the t*ts", Big Baby has some t*ts YESSSSSSSS!!

Let's Go Thunder!

Hey, remember in February when Kendrick Perkins was shipped out of Boston, taking only his wounded pride, the team's chemistry, and the Celtics' identity as a true Championship contender this season? Yeah, I do too. Well, Perkins & Co. will be going to the Western Conference Finals. Good Luck dude, we're pulling for you! Remember, the best revenge is to lead the good life (and win a championship immediately after being traded). On a related note, Perk's former teammates in Boston began their summer vacation last week. Thanks Danny!

Hmmm....what will I think of next?

-KC Jones

*Big Ran Note:  That is an EPIC picture of Trader Danny.  Looks like he should be starring in a Rolaids commercial.

A Couple Quick Things

When you are highfalutin bloggers like KC and I, you are depended upon to bring the heat every single day.  I am bringing no heat today, I've got nothing.  Anyway, I thought I would just pass along a couple of strange/awesome things I saw on Friday and Sunday.  

So, on Friday I am driving home from work, stopped at a red light (not a jacker in sight, holla at Ice Cube).  And I see a fat guy jogging.  He had the whole running get up, shoes, dri fit shirt, etc.  In addition, he was also carrying a large pizza in one hand.  Honest to God, this dude was jogging while carrying a pizza, presumably as his reward for jogging.  That's pretty great to see and I am just laughing my ass off.  I look around at other drivers an it is like they don't even see him, not even a glance out the window.  What is wrong with these people?  Am I the only one who thought that was amazing?  This story might not translate well without seeing it.

My second story comes from Sunday when I was driving and there was a bird standing in the middle of the road.  A small, black bird, just standing there facing traffic.  Not flying away, just chillin.  I drove around it. but this think didn't budge.  There are only three possibilities for why this occured:

1.  The bird is injured or dead and can't move (but it was on it's feet, not lying down)

2.  It's a stuffed bird and someone is pranking everyone

3.  This is the most gangsta bird I have ever seen.

I'm going with thee because this dude was not budging.  Just playing chicken with cars as they passed.  Or, maybe it had a death wish.  Who knows.

So, as you can tell, big weekend for Big Ran when those are the stories I pass along.

-Big Ran

KC Jones note: Big Ran is the funniest person I know, period. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

Super Fan....

Never thought I'd say it, but desperate times call for desperate measures....Given the recent elimination of the Celtics, I am, for the duration of the Miami/Chicago series, this guy's #1 Fan. Like I said, desperate times=desperate measures. Did anyone else see him just abusing the entire Heat roster last night? Truth be told, I'd love this dude if he were in green (or black and silver). His mere presence, especially his appearance is a distraction. So, let's all give a wide, gap toothed grin to JOAKIM NOAH!

Yeah? Well come and get it, b*tch!

With a little styling gel, he'd have frizz free curls women kill for!

-KC Jones