The Random Crap Thread 2: It Hits the Fan.
- Thread starter North_Ranger
- Start date
GasBandit
Staff member
A 14 year old stole his grandfather's sports car and went on a joy ride, and when police tried to stop him he cut through a park multiple times, nearly running over children. When he came back for a 3rd run through the park, the driver of this truck decided enough was enough.
Whoa, I just realized this is an ROC plane. The sun emblem, with the blue background, is still the emblem of the KMT, or Nationalist Party, here in Taiwan.I thought they might be warhawks as well but I didn't want to say anything because what if I was wrong?
[DOUBLEPOST=1401378060,1401377951][/DOUBLEPOST]View attachment 14934
Looks pretty close to me based on how well we can see the design.
My work is (finally) getting back to full-time next week, so I won't be haunting the forums all day. And then shortly after, it will be going into major overtime to make up the work, so I won't be haunting the forums weekday evenings much either. But not yet! NOT YET!
My kids' school gives a standardized test to their 1st-4th grad students (the SAT-10). We got Noah's scores. The percentiles are not a comparison with others in his school, but with all participants in his grade level nationally. He got the 98th percentile in reading! The only subject he scored below 90th percentile was in math which was 67th percentile (considered within average range). I know enough to know standardized tests are not the end all be all, but ... HOLY CRAP SON! I want to do the best for him, but honestly don't know what to do with this information.
GasBandit
Staff member
I'm not a parent, but are there any Montessori schools on your island? I started off attending one for the first couple years of my schooling and it made a world of difference. Public school can't even compare.
It helps to let your supervisors know that you have ambitions.
This is a thing I wish was available when I was in school. Would've made a big difference in my future. I'd be a completely different person, though...so honestly not sure if want.
--Patrick
GasBandit
Staff member
Let me put it this way - a couple years of Montessori school had me 2 years ahead in math by grade 5. 7 years of public school after that made me have to retake calculus twice in college.
Oh, I had a bit of a taste of it in 3-4 grade when I was put into the "what do we do with these kids?" class. I just wonder what sort of person I would be now if I'd had a steady level of challenge all up until college rather than hitting that curb between HS and college.
It's a thing we've been trying to find for our approaching-school-age kid, but there really aren't any within striking distance.
--Patrick
It's a thing we've been trying to find for our approaching-school-age kid, but there really aren't any within striking distance.
--Patrick
I know there are a few Montessori schools here. I had considered Montessori when we were in CA and Noah was in preschool. However, I think I remember reading that they prefer to start younger children in their system since their methods are considerably different than traditional schooling. Since he's going into 4th grade I don't know if they would consider him.
BUT we send them both to a private school that they love and we're quite happy with the faculty & academics, too, so it's not like we have a real reason to move him out of that environment. They are very good about letting the kids work to their ability rather than working to grade level standards. The teachers all seem to believe in "If you think you can do it, then go for it". I talked to a few of his teachers that I'm also friendly with. They pretty much said this:
but to also encourage him to stretch his math abilities through everyday activities (measuring things when we cook, counting change at the store, figuring out how to build something, etc.). Encouragement without strangling his love of learning.
GasBandit
Staff member
GasBandit
Staff member
Not ALL public schooling. The public schools in Silver Spring, MD, were actually pretty good and had a fairly advanced Gifted and Talented system - that's why I was 2 years ahead at grade 5 when I only went to a couple years of montessori. However, since my family moved from there, I've never encountered a public school (or public school system) that wasn't a disgusting socialist incubator choking on its own bureaucracy, stomping the joy of knowledge out of both student and teacher.I was replying more to GB, who has a crusade against all public schooling.
Granted I also lived in a fairly affluent suburb in MD, too. But likewise did I in TX, NM, and CO.
But given that public schools are assigned to you by geography, who wouldn't prefer the choice of hand-picking their child's school? Unfortunately as vouchers keep getting shot down by bureaucrats who fear for their jobs, the only real way to do that is to go private.
So yeah. Not ALL public schools are bad, in the same way not ALL bears maul campers. It's still smart to avoid bears as a general rule.
Ooh, I was in that class too. I had no idea why until later when I realized smart elementary school kids = fucking annoying during that last hour or so of the day.
Well, fuck. My 11-year-old cousins are moving from Silver Spring, MD to Arizona, which I'm sure ranks much lower on the public school scale.
Montgomery County public schools FTW! I went to Walter Johnson, in Bethesda.[DOUBLEPOST=1401843378,1401843339][/DOUBLEPOST]
I pictured a voluptuous and scandalously-dressed woman doing this, and that changed the scene entirely.
GasBandit
Staff member
Man, who'd have thought there'd have been so many of us on this board? I went to Burtonsville elementary for a couple years, but then they finished Cloverly elementary, and I went there a year before we moved. Cloverly elementary was a damn knowledgegasm. If I'd stayed there, I likely would have gone to Paint Branch High School.
But then we moved to El Paso. A desert both in the literal and figurative sense.
GasBandit
Staff member
I think this is the moment that will mark the beginning of the end for all the hip, trendy "crowdsourced" service apps like Uber and Couchsurfing. Uber driver arrested for attempting to kidnap/rape a fare.
Edit- correction, she was just a random drunk girl, not a fare.
Edit- correction, she was just a random drunk girl, not a fare.
Is Couchsurfing the one where you let out your house/apartment when you aren't there? There have been more than a few instances of people using the service to have wild sex parties in stranger's homes and then leaving them with the clean up/angry calls.
Every time I've couchsurfed the owner of the house has always been there. That would be really strange if they weren't. Usually it's you get there, you take them out for a drink or dinner, they show you around town a bit, have a good time, you sleep on their couch or spare bed and then take off a day or two later.
I think I awakened a monster in downloading The Reading Rainbow and Bill Nye the Science Guy.
The kid now has a HUGE want for both with a lean towards Bill Nye.
Now I'm wracking my brain for my shows like that he might like. Kratts Creatures comes to mind...maybe Crocodile Hunter?
Suggestions?
Between his rather extreme library habit and this I am having trouble keeping up.
...also it sounds like he is indoors all the time. Not the case. It's Newfoundland. It rains...often. I am also about ready to pop with this baby so thing where I can just SIT are nice.
The kid now has a HUGE want for both with a lean towards Bill Nye.
Now I'm wracking my brain for my shows like that he might like. Kratts Creatures comes to mind...maybe Crocodile Hunter?
Suggestions?
Between his rather extreme library habit and this I am having trouble keeping up.
...also it sounds like he is indoors all the time. Not the case. It's Newfoundland. It rains...often. I am also about ready to pop with this baby so thing where I can just SIT are nice.
Wild Kratts would be good for animals, yes.
Alton Brown's presentation style is similar to Nye's.
There are older shows also, such as Watch Mr. Wizard.
You might try to find older shows such as 3-2-1 Contact, Cosmos (both new AND old), the Jaques Cousteau specials, a series called The Body Human, Beakman's World, or check out any of the things you see in this list.
Don't start him on Mythbusters until he's done with puberty, though.
--Patrick
Alton Brown's presentation style is similar to Nye's.
There are older shows also, such as Watch Mr. Wizard.
You might try to find older shows such as 3-2-1 Contact, Cosmos (both new AND old), the Jaques Cousteau specials, a series called The Body Human, Beakman's World, or check out any of the things you see in this list.
Don't start him on Mythbusters until he's done with puberty, though.
--Patrick
Magic School Bus
Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego? (Not to be confused with Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, the greatest game show of all time)
I would suggest Square One TV, but it's not really available in an easily watchable format outside of extremely low framerate YouTube. =/
Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego? (Not to be confused with Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, the greatest game show of all time)
I would suggest Square One TV, but it's not really available in an easily watchable format outside of extremely low framerate YouTube. =/
He's a famous cinematographer of music videos and commercials, but he does dabble in cooking, yes.
http://www.worldsstrangest.com/mental-floss/5-things-you-didn’t-know-about-alton-brown/
--Patrick
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