Blog Piggyback: Mitt Romney Future Florida Carpetbagger?

Via The Jed Report--

Mitt Romney panders to those who call Jacksonville, Florida home.

(...)

“You know my wife – I wish she were here today. ... She has said someday, who knows, we might move to Florida. You never know.  Someday, way down the road.”

“We had the chance during the primaries to be able to go all over the country and see a lot of places, and she said 'You know what? If we are going to move, one place I love [is] Jacksonville, Florida,’” Romney told the crowd, which cheered. “She knows a good thing when she sees it.”

Later, on his charter flight from Jacksonville to West Palm Beach, a reporter asked Romney what he and his wife found most appealing about Jacksonville. "We love California," he replied. "But there are attractions to Florida. It has the right tax rates, among others."

Yet, a full review of the LA Times article in its entirety reveal one plum of a punchline.

(...)

In the short term, Romney said, he was heading to his family’s summer home at New Hampshire’s Lake Winnipesaukee to get the house ready for the summer. "I'm going to do that this Saturday," he said. "It will be me alone. Put the boat in the water. Get out the picnic tables. By myself."

And avoid strapping dog kennels to the roof of the family car.

And so it goes.

Happy Weekend.

Reading for Thinkers

“I feel thin, sort of stretched, like butter, scraped over too much bread.- Bilbo Baggins on the occasion of his 111st Birthday” 

--J.R.R. Tolkien

Weekend Zen

Hey! You! Get off of my cloud.

The Rolling Stones.  Get Off of My Cloud.  1967.

Sign the Time Out for Testing Petition

(...)

A former special education teacher and a mom of three, (Dorit) Weintraub is worried that because of the pressure on teachers and administration around the FCAT, her children are missing opportunities for quality learning experiences. She pointed to a recent science lesson on weather, including cloud formations, that her daughter studied. “Did you ever go outside to look at the clouds?” Weintraub asked her daughter. No was the reply. 

Think Florida relies too much on the FCAT?

Sign the Time Out for Testing resolution here.

Read more here.

All Better Now. FCAT Writes Scores Reset

 And phttttt ... it was gone.  FCAT Writes scores reset.

Just one more day in the gloom, despair and agony known as the Florida education system.

(...)

The lower score is expected to increase the number of students passing the exam to 48 percent for fourth-graders, 52 percent for eighth-graders and 60 percent for 10th-graders. Those results still will be slightly lower than the prior year’s test results.

(...)

The manner in which the 2012 FCAT writing assessment was scored this year changed from prior years, putting an emphasis on proficiency and an increased threshold of a 4.0 to receive a passing score. With the changes to the grading, nearly a third of students would not have passed.

Although the instructions for this year’s test did not change, the way the Department of Education (DEO) scored the tests did, putting a greater emphasis on spelling and grammar, according to state Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson.

(Bay County Superintendent Bill) Husfelt explained the issues using an analogy that the state basically gave one test and then, when grading, decided it was a different type of test.

“The FCAT Writes was created to see the writing style of students,” Husfelt said. “It was never intended to be a final essay that was graded. Students have 45 minutes and they are asked to get down their main ideas, and while grammar is important, that was not the emphasis.”

State education officials admitted there was a breakdown in communications and that they did not adequately inform parents and teachers about the changes and importance of the test. A one-page letter will be sent home with scores explaining to parents about the scoring and passing grade threshold.

Read more here. 

 

What Went Wrong with FCAT Writes?

The lower than anticipated results of the Florida FCAT 2012 Writing Assessment results achieved by Florida 4th, 8th and 10th grade students have school districts throughout Florida as well as the State Board of Education asking why.

(...)

The Education Department has recommended the state board today agree to reduce the score used in the school-grading formula to a 3.5 out of 6, as it had been in previous years. Using the 3.5 benchmark would lessen the impact of the lower scores on school grades.

Forty-eight percent of fourth-graders hit that 3.5 mark, for example, as opposed to the 27 percent who met the 4-point score.

But several educators at the coalition meeting, which includes 10 school districts that stretch across the state from Brevard to Manatee counties, said dropping the school-grading mark would be a quick fix that wouldn't dig into what happened. And it would look as if the state was lowering standards when it didn't like the way the scores came back.

"Either own the results and try to explain to everybody you're right or maybe step back," said Brian Binggeli, superintendent of Brevard County schools.

FCAT Writes--an assessment requiring Florida fourth, eighth and tenth grade students to write an essay in forty-five minutes--included a scoring change this year that increased attention to writing conventions:  punctuation, grammar, sentence structure, spelling and mechanics, all areas previously scored with leniency.

Read more about these and other changes made to the 2012 FCAT Writing Assessment here.

***

"The significant contrast in this year's writing scores is an obvious indication that the Department of Education needs to review the issue and recommend an action plan so that our schools, parents, teachers and students have a clear understanding of the results."

--Florida Governor Rick Scott

Forgiving Student Loan Debt

Think student loan debt is only for the young?  Think again.

(...)

Almost 2 million people at least 60 years old are still paying on student loans, according to a recent survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank in New York. That's more than 5 percent of the 37 million who have student loans, the study found.

Indeed, a third of all student loans are held by people at least 40 years old, including U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who reported he took out at least $100,000 in student loans to finish his undergraduate and law degrees.

The federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program pardons federal student loans after borrowers have worked 10 years at a federal, state or local government agency or tax-exempt nonprofit agency.

Years worked prior to October 1, 2007 are not included in the ten year count. 

Read more over at the Sun Sentinel. and The Project for Student Debt.

Quote of the Week

“It has been a pleasure and an honor serving you, but the recent media attention I have been receiving has begun to interfere with the day-to-day operations of this office.  I feel now is the time to plan for me to depart, for you to name my replacement and for us to work on a smooth transition.”

--Steve MacNamara, former Chief of Staff for Gov. Rick Scott

MacNamara Out

Per The Tampa Bay Times, the sign to Rick Scott Chief of Staff Steve MacNamara  reads "No one gets in to see the Wizard. Not no one, no how."

And now the Wizard is out, effective July 1st.

(...)

MacNamara's decision to resign also came just hours after he responded to a series of questions from AP regarding his involvement in negotiations between the state and a Tallahassee software company regarding a $20 million contract. The company was represented by a high-powered lobbying firm in the state capital.

Emails show MacNamara was involved in a push to give the governor's office the ability to resolve any disputes between Infinity Software Development and the Department of Education over management of the contract.

MacNamara recently faced scrutiny regarding his decision to allowing Florida state film commissioner Sherri Kerrigan travel to the annual Sundance Film Festival on our tax dollar dime.

Reading for Thinkers

The first arrival was Gowing, who, with his usual taste, greeted me with: “Hulloh, Pooter, why your trousers are too short!”


I simply said: “Very likely, and you will find my temper ‘short’ also.”


He said: “That won’t make your trousers longer, Juggins.  You should get your missus to put a flounce on them.”


I wonder I waste my time entering his insulting observations in my diary.

--The Diary of a Nobody, George and Weedon Grossmith, 1892.

Weekend Zen

It was an early morning yesterday
I was up before the dawn
And I really have enjoyed my stay
But I must be moving on.

Goodbye Stranger.  Supertramp.

Short Shorts: Sundance, Clooney and Romney Pranks and Hijinks

Chief of Staff Steve MacNamara bent boss Guv.Scott's strict travel rules for attorney friend Sherri Kerrigan.  Destination?  Sundance Film Fest.  Read more how Sherri flew out to Utah on our tax dollars to the tune of $2713.00 here.

Be still my heart.  George Clooney holds a fundraiser for President Obama.


Creepy enough to quote verbatim.  "... The Washington Post reported Thursday that he (Mitt Romney) had held down classmate John Lauber and cut off his bleached blond hair when they were students at a prestigious boarding school in the wealthy Detroit suburb of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.  The Post suggested Lauber was bullied because he was gay. 

“The people involved didn’t come out of the closet until years later,” Romney told a Fox News radio show. “I had no idea that this person might have been gay.  “I participated in a lot of hijinks and pranks during high school and some may have gone too far. And for that I apologize,” he added.

Too little, too late.

UF Journalism and Music Libraries Face Budgetary Bully

 The small guy gets sand kicked in his face yet once again.

 Gainesville Sun:

(...)

The University of Florida might close its journalism and music libraries as a result of budget cuts.

UF's Smathers Libraries system is considering the closures as part of its plan to cut 5 percent of its budget, or nearly $1.4 million. Dean of University Libraries Judith Russell discussed the proposal Monday at a town hall meeting at Smathers Library in advance of a Friday deadline for submitting a final plan to the UF provost.

The journalism and music libraries are the smallest of the branch libraries, Russell said, so they have the highest relative costs in terms of staffing.

"Obviously, the smallest branches are the least cost-efficient," she said.

Total savings by closing the libraries?

$202,000.

Teach Your Children Hell: Florida

 Teach anywhere but Florida.

The Ledger:

Florida teachers are on their way to becoming among the worst-paid in the nation.

For the 2009-10 school year, average teacher salaries in Florida fell to No. 37 among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, and estimates for 2010-11 show them falling to No. 47, according to a national report released this week.

Florida's average teacher salary last year was $46,708. The national average was $55,202.

The unfavorable ranking comes as state lawmakers prepare to make sweeping changes to how teachers are hired, fired, paid and evaluated. They may also require teachers to chip in up to 5 percent of their pay towards their pensions.

(...)

Florida's estimated average teacher salary for 2010-11 ($6 lower than last year's average) puts it behind every state in the Southeast and ahead of only Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah. In the past, the finalized numbers did not change much from the estimates.

Quote of the Week

"Wow, no foreplay.  I'm not going to be vice president."

--Jeb Bush, former Florida governor, Ave Maria University

Blog Piggyback: Rick Scott Deposition

Piggybacking off Eye of Miami blogger Genius of Despair--the deposition of Rick Scott.

Two hours of video guaranteed to leave Floridians screaming.

Watch here.

Reading for Thinkers

“Last night I walked clear down to Times Square & just as I arrived I suddenly realized I was a ghost - it was my ghost walking on the sidewalk.” 

--Jack Kerouac, On the Road

Weekend Zen

The changing of sunlight to moonlight
Reflections of my life.

Reflections of My Life.  Marmalade.

Short Shorts

Florida crime rate dips.  Makes sense.  Not enough funding from the state to budget new hires results in less feet on the street to make arrests equates to lowered crime statistics.

Find out about Rubio's most recent election fine, i.e. not his first, not to mention, the junior Senator from Florida is anti-woman.

How much did that PAC pay for that political ad?  FCC makes the Super PACs 'fess up by considering a new rule forcing major networks to post the price and source of each ad.

Talk to Me.

The Romney Round-Up

 Did Mitt Romney fall prey to Arizona immigration law?

Check out my latest Bloid News faux news contribution, The Romney Round-Up  here.

Yep. Shameless self-promotion.

Enjoy.

Pam Bondi Wants You

Florida AG Pam Bondi has a bunch of cash on hand and seeks input from the public on how best to spend it.

(Aside.  Before dear readers believe for one second that Ms. Bondi has gone all altruistic, the pic above is in fact the beloved dog she withheld from a post-Katrina Louisiana family and utilized the court system as well as her profession as an attorney to do so.  Read more here).

To continue ...

The Miami Herald:

(...)

Then there's a $300 million chunk of change that goes to the state, that has not yet been allocated. Bondi has not yet said what the money will be used for, but she's beginning to seek public input.
The money is supposed to be used for "consumer relief" and could go to help hire housing counselors, fund foreclosure assistance programs, or pay for neighborhood revitalization. Some states have indicated they'd use their unallocated funds to plug their budget holes, but Bondi indicated that she is not considering that.

Members of the public have until May 14th to make suggestions.

Put your two cents in about the State -Federal Foreclosure Settlement Public Input here.

***

State-Federal Foreclosure Settlement - Public Input

Attorney General Pam Bondi invites the public to make suggestions on how best to distribute approximately $300 million recovered on behalf of Florida’s consumers in the national mortgage servicing settlement. From Monday, April 30, through Monday, May 14, at 5 p.m., the public can make suggestions to the Attorney General’s Office by submitting the form below.

In the next several weeks, Attorney General Bondi will be evaluating input from the public, interested stakeholders, and representatives of the Governor’s Office and the Legislature before distributing settlement funds.

The court-approved settlement calls for the Attorney General to direct approximately $300 million in consumer relief for purposes intended to avoid preventable foreclosures, to ameliorate the effects of the foreclosure crisis, and to enhance law enforcement efforts against financial fraud. To learn more about the settlement, read our press release.

The settlement agreement lists permissible uses of the settlement funds, including: housing counselors, state and local foreclosure assistance hotlines, state and local foreclosure mediation programs, legal assistance, housing remediation and anti-blight projects, and training and staffing of financial fraud or consumer protection enforcement efforts. More information regarding the uses of these settlement funds can be found under “Exhibit B” of the final settlement agreement. Mortgage Settlement Link

Current or former homeowners seeking information regarding the settlement should visit www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com.

Prometheus Radio Project

Does your city or town need community radio?   


Check your zip code here.

Under the current FCC rules, there's little or no room for community radio  in Melbourne; however, the FCC is currently deciding whether to allow special rule waivers that would allow community radio in more locations..

Waivers would make a difference!

But to win fair rules for community radio, the FCC needs to hear from those who support community radio by May 7.  

To send the FCC your customized comment, just enter your zip code on the channel finder tool. Then click "Tell the FCC" on your results page and send your comment.

These are our cities and our airwaves! Tell the FCC that all our cities and towns deserve community radio.

To learn more about the FCC rules and what's at stake, check out Prometheus Radio Take Action page.

Watch a quick video, read more, and explore radio forecast maps. 

Remember, send your comment to the FCC by May 7!

 

LPFM stations that are already operating Melbourne/Palm Bay. 

Find available channels in your area here.

WFHA-LP

MELBOURNE FL
WINDOVER FARMS OF MELBOURNE HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION, INC.
94.1 FM

WGRV-LP

MELBOURNE FL
BREVARD YOUTH EDUCATION BROADCASTING CORP.
93.1 FM

WNRG-LP

PALM BAY FL
PUBLIC RADIO INFORMATION SERVICES OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, INC.
107.9 FM

What's a Haridopolos? Term-Limited!

Good riddance.

(...) (Mike) Haridopolos, 42, is completing his ninth year in the Senate, including two as its president, after serving three years in the Florida House of Representatives. He was first elected to the Senate in a 2003 special election to fill the seat of Howard Futch, who died while in office. Haridopolos cannot run for re-election in the Senate because of term limits. (...) “We’ve had enough politics for a little while,” said Haridopolos, referring to himself and his wife, Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos.

It is we that have had enough of you.

More here.

One Chance

Short Shorts

Guv. Rick Scott gets shot down by the courts again with a no can do drug testing of state workers by executive order slap on the wrist.  He plans an appeal, of course.  Paid for with our tax dollars.

Per usual, the School Board of Brevard County acts with typical class by acting on raises during the school day while teachers are working, Monday, May 7, 9:00 AM.  Retirees, we need your voice!

Interesting conversation about what people think about Brevard Public School teachers here. (The old part-time employees myth surfaces yet again).

Buy Art.  Visit the Melbourne Art Festival this weekend.

Weekend Zen

I'm gipper, I'm gipper, I'm gipper, I'm gipper.

Optimo 55 Souf.  I'm Gipper.

Trending: Daniel Tosh

Best comment yet on the Daniel Tosh/Titusville, Florida water tower issue--

"Cmon now. Tosh is a Titusville favorite son. Other than Chris Collinsworth is there any other well known Titusville alums?" 

How quickly people have forgotten the Space Shuttle.

Make note, Titusville.

Mr. Personality

When I moved back to Melbourne after college graduation, I figured it would be easy to land a job teaching.

I had attended the local schools when the area was still small enough to put names with student faces.

And with a last name like "Shatsky", I mean, honestly, how hard is that to forget?

Armed with my resume, I walked the walk of all newly graduated teachers in search of a classroom, which involves pounding the pavement to area schools and introducing one's self to the principal.

My first stop was Croton Elementary School, located in my old neighborhood. Confident I would be remembered as that wonderful sixth grade city slicker who wore miniskirts and gold suede go-go boots, I entered the office and introduced myself to the clerical staff.

"Hello," I said. "My name is Sheree Shatsky. I'd like to drop off my resume."

The ladies looked at each other and smiled. I was right! They did remember me. I was as good as hired.

One of the office clerks took my resume and looked it over. I couldn't wait to tell my mother that Croton-the very first school I visited-rolled out the red carpet to the Prodigal Student. I must have made some impression as a kid! Must? I did! I was a great kid-a little sassy perhaps-some might say opinionated in a black and white thinking sort of way-but still smart, talented, and darn cute.

She looked up from her reading. Here it comes! What would she say? "Please have a seat. I'll get you right in with Mr. Rose?" Or perhaps, "You are just what we need here at Croton. An interview is just a formality?" I smiled my best smile.

Smiling back, she unceremoniously tossed my resume in the stack on her desk and said, "Didn't you have a brother named Vance?"

The kid who wore three pair of underwear to school as a preemptive strategy in anticipation of a paddling strike by the principal-my brother, Vance-three years my junior-he, they remembered!

As did the staff at Johnson Junior High, my next stop.

Heavy sigh. So much for gold suede go-go boots.

***

Happy Birthday, Vance.

April 26, 1959-January 20, 1986

We miss you.

Florida Sightings: Titusville Wants to Die

The (Titusville) city council turned down a $7,000 proposal to place a banner on a city water tower in honor of Comedy Central comedian Daniel Tosh, who graduated from Astronaut High in 1993.

(...)

“I don’t think it’s a good use of public property,” Councilwoman Martha Long said. “The fact that there is $7,000 being waved in front of us, it’s not worthy.”

 Wow.  With Titusville eroding quickly into a ghost town following the exit of the Space Shuttle program, I think Tosh himself sums up the struggling city best:

"You're slower than a herd of turtles stampeding through peanut butter." 

Reading for Thinkers

It was the lock of the door which had been closed ten years and she put her hand in her pocket, drew out the key and found it fitted the keyhole. She put the key in and turned it. It took two hands to do it, but it did turn.

And then she took a long breath and looked behind her up the long walk to see if any one was coming. No one was coming. No one ever did come, it seemed, and she took another long breath, because she could not help it, and she held back the swinging curtain of ivy and pushed back the door which opened slowly--slowly.

Then she slipped through it, and shut it behind her, and stood with her back against it, looking about her and breathing quite fast with excitement, and wonder, and delight.

She was standing inside the secret garden.

-- Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden