Mad Mikey's Blog

May 13, 2006

It's Too Hard!

Only here in California could this happen:

High School Exit Exam Tossed

A judge says the test, required for graduation for the first time this year, places an unfair burden on students in low-performing schools.

A California judge struck down the state's controversial high school exit exam Friday, potentially clearing the way for thousands of seniors who have failed the test to graduate with their class next month.

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Robert B. Freedman issued a preliminary injunction against the mandatory testing requirement, ruling it places an unfair burden on poor and minority students who attend low-performing schools.

"With the bold stroke of a pen, Judge Freedman has given 47,000 students an opportunity to walk the stage with their classmates and to receive their high school diplomas," attorney Arturo Gonzalez said in a statement. Gonzalez filed the challenge to the exit exam in February on behalf of a group of students and their parents.

With graduation ceremonies weeks away, the decision throws into question the fate of many of the 46,700 seniors statewide — roughly one in 10 — who have failed the two-part test. It is certain to reignite national debate over the fairness of such exams.

State Supt. of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, who wrote the legislation mandating the exam in 1999, expressed deep frustration over the ruling and reiterated the state's plans for a speedy appeal.

"I am greatly disappointed in today's court decision," he said. "It's a setback for students and for hard-fought school accountability in our state…. It's a decision that should not be allowed to stand."

Wonderful.

Now we're graduating high school seniors that cannot pass a test because of the unfair pressure it puts on them. It's too hard!! I feel repressed!

Great - now we'll have another batch of people incapable of functioning in society....and they will (of course) blame the Man for their problems.

Posted by Mad Mikey at 01:11 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

-->

Posted by Mad Mikey at 01:11 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

May 12, 2006

Cat Peer Pressure

My cat's have an evil weapon: they're cute, cuddly, and they know that I'm a sucker for that.

My cat Katey (pictured above) is currently working her magic to get nummies - 9-Lives canned cat food.

I'd give in and serve them up some, but they'll get sick, puke somewhere in the house, and I'd have to clean it up.

Doesn't the United Nations have some committee to combat this type of pressure?

Posted by Mad Mikey at 06:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

-->

Posted by Mad Mikey at 06:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Three Ducks

For those that are curious as to how 'well' I'm doing, here is a picture of me wearing a present I got at my 'home coming party' last month.

The scar from the surgery is healing quite nicely - I'm not too self-concious about it these days - especially since the staples and sutures were removed.

The shirt I'm wearing there is my 'Three Ducks of the Apocalypse' t-shirt and it was a present from my wife & daughter.

Why ducks?

Well, it all has to do with the state of mind I was in when I first woke up from my coma while I was in the hospital....it would seem that while I was under the influence of the 'ICU Psychosis' (being severally doped up on morphine and some other 'juicy' narcotics) I reportedly claimed that I witnessed seeing a duck sitting at the nurse's station while I was talking to my wife:

Mikey and the Mrs. were talking and Mikey kept asking if she saw the duck.

"Where?"

"Behind that guy!"

"I don't see a duck."

"It's right there, behind the guy."

"Okay. I believe you're seeing a duck behind the guy, honey."

Some of Mikey's meds are bringing along hallucinations. That's not unusual. If he's still having them without the meds, I'll worry. Or if Mrs. Mikey starts seeing things...I'd definitely worry then!

Things are moving slowly, as expected. He's still in the ICU and it's a good place for him to be. The bone flap, the lines, the fact that he has a long way to go - I can't imagine a better place for him to receive care. The next stop would likely be a step down unit. He'd continue to receive close monitoring, but not be stuck in ICU.

22 days of unconsciousness. Brain surgery. Machines breathing for you. You don't just jump right out of bed after that.

But he's back.

And it's duck season.

The 'coming home' party that was thrown in my honor apparently was secretly themed after ducks - almost all of the presents I received were duck related....including this t-shirt. (I'm glad I didn't report seeing squids or Jack the Ripper there....)

I came up with the name 'Three Ducks of the Apocalypse' when I told my daughter they were initially named 'Quack, quack, and QUACK!!'

I'll try to get some photos of the other ducks and post them soon....

UPDATE: Here's a closer look at the 'Three Ducks of the Apocalypse'.

Posted by Mad Mikey at 10:48 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

-->

Posted by Mad Mikey at 10:48 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

May 11, 2006

It's About Time!

It's about time!!

Immigration crackdown intensifies

Valley law enforcement agencies are ramping up efforts to combat illegal immigration, but they are using the state's anti-human-smuggling statute to tackle the problem from two different directions.

On the one hand, a multi-agency financial crimes task force has been using surveillance and undercover operations for the past two months to target smugglers and cripple them financially.

On the other hand, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has mobilized a posse to seek out and arrest undocumented immigrants for conspiracy to smuggle themselves into the United States.

The efforts come on the heels of an anti-human-smuggling statute that took effect in Arizona in August and gave prosecutors a tool to go after "coyotes," or smugglers, who traffic in undocumented immigrants. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office later issued an opinion saying undocumented immigrants suspected of paying coyotes could be prosecuted as conspirators.

Both approaches initially appear to be having an impact.

On Wednesday, task force officials from Phoenix police, the state Department of Public Safety and the Arizona Attorney General's Office announced their investigation into human-smuggling operations and money laundering has netted 62 arrests, along with weapons, cars and cash.

You can expect the shrill screams of 'RACISM!!' to start coming from illegal alien supporters anytime soon.

And as a side note, because of this crap not being addressed and because of those schmucks in DHS allowing the location(s) of Minutemen border watching parties to be sent to Mexican authorities, I've contacted the San Diego Voter Registration department to request a voter registration card to be sent to my house - I'm re-registering my party affiliation. It's going from Republican Party to Independent.

And that's just for a start.

Mr. President and members of Congress? Get your sh!t wired - NOW - or you're going to see a lot of pissed off people like me really thinking hard come this June for the primary and for the general election in November.....get my drift?

Michelle Malkin has a great piece on this over at her site. Check it out.

Posted by Mad Mikey at 12:55 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

-->

Posted by Mad Mikey at 12:55 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

May 10, 2006

High Speed At Last!

Linksys Wireless Router I finally got high speed Internet into the house!

With a little finacial help from a family member, I obtained two USB wireless adapters (for the two desktop computers) and with the wireless router donated to me by someone who shall remain anonymous (unless they say otherwise). With these materials gathered in one place and after the Time Warner technician finished installing the cable-modem, I was able to get a wireless network established in less than 15 minutes.

Both of the desktops connected with no problems - getting my notebook connected was another matter.

After farting around for a while last night and this morning, I finally realized by mistake: I was trying to log onto the network using my router password instead of the 10-digit hexidecimal WEP code; once I plugged in the correct code, I was connected.

I do have to admit that this endevour was almost like the 'old days' when I would try to upgrade my POS 386 computer and would spend weeks trying to get all of the hardware to cooperate together - no IRC conflicts.

From now on, no more 'dial-up'!!

Posted by Mad Mikey at 10:29 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

-->

Posted by Mad Mikey at 10:29 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

Calendar

About Me

Who is Mikey?

Mikey playing with digital camera
Mikey is a forty-something U.S. Navy veteran that is currently taking a break from being a full-time student at UC San Diego studying electrical engineering.

He's also a husband, a father, a former Independent/Democrat and is currently dealing with dialysis and getting on the national kidney transplant list.

The words written here are his opinions and his observations on the stupid things in life. If you do not like them or do not agree with them: tough squishies. In America, you're entitled to Freedom of Speech not Freedom to Not Be Offended.

Help Mikey by not being part of the problem and instead, be part of the solution so that he doesn't have to comment on your sorry actions.

Contact Mikey

mikey-AT-madmikey-DOT-mu-DOT-nu
AIM: madmikeysblog
YIM: madmikey92037
Any/all e-mail sent to Mikey might be published if you get nasty or it's something worthwhile...

Donate

Help Mike deal with his mounting medical bills

What's this all about? Read this to learn more...

Search This Site

Counters and Stuff

Total Entries: 1152
Total Comments: 4248
Comments/Entry: 3.69

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat

Groups & Associations

California Bear League

MuNuviana

Powered By

Design Credit

May 13, 2006

It's Too Hard!

Trackback Information for It's Too Hard!

Comments on It's Too Hard!

May 12, 2006

Cat Peer Pressure

Trackback Information for Cat Peer Pressure

Comments on Cat Peer Pressure

Three Ducks

Trackback Information for Three Ducks

Comments on Three Ducks

May 11, 2006

It's About Time!

Trackback Information for It's About Time!

Comments on It's About Time!

May 10, 2006

High Speed At Last!

Trackback Information for High Speed At Last!

Comments on High Speed At Last!

Calendar

About Me

Contact Mikey

Donate

Blogroll

Recent Entries

Search This Site

Counters and Stuff

Archives