I have spent most of my “Internet Update Time” on twitter, but I wanted to let all know that I am not going to let the blog die. Stay tuned for Paul JD rants.
05
Mar
2010
23
Jan
2010
A week of losses
Democrats loose Massachusetts senate seat, as well as a supermajority. Americans loose protections from corporate influence over federal elections in the Supreme Court. The Dow Jones looses 5 percent, and of course NBC looses Conan (Coco) on the Tonight Show. What is a Paul the yuppie from Utah to do?
12
Jan
2010
I Support Conan
NBC has done an absolutely beautiful job of messing things up.
They should simply let Jay Leno go.
I’m with Coco
Support Conan O'Brien
16
Dec
2009
A song for the Mormons
This made me laugh.
02
Dec
2009
Hmm…. what I am I doing
That last post was very untimely. It is Wednesday after the game for crying out loud.
I am thinking about what to do with www.ximz.com. I think I need to either redirect .com to here, or do something else.
I think I have spent too much time at home today.
02
Dec
2009
Max Hall is Crap
First you win the game, and then you crap all over your victory. Yes, Brigham Young University (commonly known as the BYU) has produced another awesome chapter in the annual holy war: soon to be ex quarterback Max Hall. His statement is as follows: “I don’t like Utah, in fact, I hate them. I hate everything about them. I hate their program, I hate their fans, I hate everything.”
Obviously such comments are going to release a firestorm of criticism and support in a rivalry as heated as BYU v Utah. Indeed the back and forth between the BYU / Utah fans has gone on all week. What I find most surprising about the statement is not the content itself, but who said it. Max is a leader of their team, and in very many respects, the public face of BYU’s football program. For someone in such a position to make such a blatant statement is unacceptable. Just imagine if everyone similarly placed made such statements. It is very childish, and it shows a complete lack of control over ones emotions.
14
Nov
2009
More Spanish Fork Fashion
Spanish Fork, home of pride and progress.
02
Nov
2009
Yearly Rant
I am really tired, but I needed to mention this before it becomes irrelevant. I hate standard time, I hate it like a liberal hates Glenn Beck. I can’t stand getting off of work and it being dark — virtually regardless of what time I leave.
10
Sep
2009
School District will let kids listen to Obama
In a story covered by the New York Times my local school district has reversed course and will allow the innocent children in south Utah county to watch Obama’s speech. Never-mind the fact that students will be watching President Obama’s address over a week after it originally aired. No thanks to Superintendent Chris Sorensen for getting caught up in mass hysteria.
03
Sep
2009
Nebo School District Response
Here is the response. I am not surprised by the lack of procedure for such a decision, and I am unhappy about the outcome.
Hi Paul,
Thanks for your question. There is not a “set” criterion for an event such
as this.
A School Board is clearly within their authority to make decisions which
they believe are in the best interest of the district.We have had such an outcry from literally hundreds of patrons concerned
about the showing of the welcome back to school talk that we were taken by
surprise.
Had there been time to functionally inform parents of their choice to let
their kids view this or not, I believe that would have been done.
The choice to opt out would have been a valid option that would have met the
desires of parents on either side of the issue by allowing those who wanted
to see it to do so, and those who didn’t, to opt out. Logistically it would
have been a nightmare to do this adequately.We truthfully didn’t receive an official announcement of this until last
night. The Board made the only decision they felt would be responsive to
both groups, with the understanding that anyone will be still able to view
the speech at home in various forms after the speech is given.I would also tell you that independent of the decision, I personally would
have not blinked if my own kids watched the speech. But viewing it on my own
is a fair alternative. But for good or bad, and many times for both, A
Board must make a decision that they feel is responsible and fair. I believe
given the parameters of this situation they have done their best to do just
that.I certainly understand that there will not be much you will not agree with
concerning this reply, and I truly respect that.I am adding a copy of the memo that we sent out to our schools.
Sincerely
Chris Sorensen
MEMO
DATE: September 3, 2009
TO: Principals
FROM: Supt. Sorensen
RE: Video feed of President Obama speaking to school children.
State Superintendent Larry Shumway sent official word on September 2, 2009,
announcing “President Obama’s back-to-school message to school children.”
Supt. Shumway’s message says “the decision to watch (or not to watch) the
President’s speech should be made by each [district] LEA. There is no
requirement from the USOE, the U.S. Department of Education, or from the
President that any student watch.”Given the late timing of the announcement, Nebo District has decided that
district students will not participate in watching this speech at school.
The tight timeline presented two main concerns:
1) With respect to parental responsibility, Nebo District would have
given parents the right to opt out of having their student watch this
speech. This would have been difficult to appropriately accomplish in such
a short time.
2) Adjusting for established school and class schedules, technology
availability, and previously planned activities on such short notice would
have created administrative and curriculum challenges for schools.Parents who wish to watch the speech live next Tuesday can find it on C-SPAN
and on the internet at www.whitehouse.gov. We would encourage parents who
desire to have their student watch the speech outside of school time on the
internet.