dc.

Definitely true. And you're right it's being tested in several districts. In most they have also found ways to make them battery saving in having an "auto activate" feature related to police movement or radio usage.

Well they are specifically complaining about a course redesign that takes effect this year, but the changes are far more about teaching style (depth not cramming) than about content. There are almost no individuals or events mentioned by name in the rewrite, instead there are themes (early struggles of federal system) and teachers are encouraged to pick their own examples. Usually the requirement would be that students should be allowed to discuss at least X people or make examples in the theme.

Wait, I thought education (especially the actions by a private corporation) was none of Congress' business???? http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/14/rnc-to-congress-investigate-the-ap-u-s-history-exam.html I have much to say on this as an AP history teacher (though I don't teach US I do work closely with US teachers)... but the most basic thought I'd simply: they are wrong about the new curriculum and should bother reading it. Classic crying wolf to get attention; though I guess they're really crying "the commies are coming!"

It's a cliche but so true... When all you have is a hammer... I love the scene in "13Days" about the Cuban Missile Crisis where the joint chiefs are advising JFK on his options. The army wants to invade, the air force wants to bomb ... They all agree that you have to act because the issue is clearly one big nail!

There are some good pieces out there on how many small town forces now have legitimate tanks and armored vehicles - mostly gifted to them by the DOD when taken out of service or simply unused. Scary. Also a number of reports that verify that SWAT style teams are not only growing in size and arms but in frequency as well. They didn't used to busy down your door with a SWAT team and flash bangs because they thought you had a few dime bags... But there are plenty of studies showing increasing use for these purposes. And it's pretty clearly because if we're going to spend the money on the special outfits, equipment and extra man power, we better use it.

I would only add, Force, that until the last fifteen years local police generally did not have access to what are literally war-grade assault weaponry. The growth of that industry has dramatically emboldened and increased the frequency of these tactics - got to use the new toys. But certainly some level of police state mentality has always existed. I have never understood those who believe the govt was right to rend certain public protests like those on the mall in Vietnam or even some occupy movements. What good is a right to protest if the govt can dictate when and where to minimize the publicity and keep it out of sight

Fair question, Grubber. I only meant that there has been this statement of "shoot with his hands up," but little discussion of how things got to a guns out situation and there is some indication that Brown may have instigated some of that. Not proven but at least the knowledge of an altercation is being confirmed by witnesses, whereas so many previously didn't acknowledge that part happened.

Funny Dee... My Facebook feed was one day on Williams but is exploding on Ferguson. But I do have a bunch of friends in alternative media. New details make at least part of the shooting seem justified - though the extra bullets after raising his arms... Absurd. But the story of the police state is the bigger one and scarier. Even journalist from the post and huff post got arrested with no explanation for covering the event.

Ha-uge win.

Not sure on that specifically but many for products have cut down sizes and left price the same to trick consumers into thinking prices haven't gone up. Most famous are orange juice containers that used to be a half gallon (two quarts) and are now 1.75 or less quarts in many cases. Keep your eyes peeled on all products. Even bread - how many ounces/slices? Hard to fight it, but you can at least make sure you are buying based on the unit price (per pound or per ounce) to help ensure you're not getting totally ripped off. But either way you'll start to notice the price increases more.

BTW - this from Norm MacDonald about his first time meeting Williams is priceless.

Was at the O's game last night when this news started spreading... really put a damper on the night. Been thinking all day and night. I don't know that you could have picked two actors, between Williams and Philip Seymour Hoffman, whose deaths would have upset me more. I didn't even realize it with either one until both happened, so maybe there are others. But I am wracking my brain and can't find any others ... no one even close, really.

I blame tonight's rainout on Crav.

Just busting on you as always, friend - gotta keep Crav's curses in line. And yes, lucky not to be teaching down there. Though, I teach summer programs up here and have been in school for three weeks - plus six weeks of grad classes made not much of a summer!

A question can be a curse. You don't have to say, "Look! He's throwing a no hitter?" It's equally jinx-ing to say, "Anybody notice anything special going on this game... *whistle*?"

Crav... you can't keep a thought straight. All I said was that you start talking magic numbers and we lose... now you want to say, "Well 2 out of 3..."... but those two were already won before you decided to talk magic numbers. You can't claim those wins as evidence your curse doesn't exist because you hadn't talked before them.

I saw the other car swerve, but not it's back end spin towards the kid... Meanwhile, as mentioned above - "not criminal" does not mean "won't become criminal" - "Tony Stewart not officially in the clear" http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/10/justice/tony-stewart-hits-driver/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 I am not really taking a side. I know too little. I just know that he hit the kid and the kid is now dead. And the answer is not as plain as "well, the kid was in the way." It may come that that is the determining factor, but it's hardly the only factor.

And yet after back to back 10 run games... you made a statement and we sucked it up on Sunday. Don't reverse your causes and effects, Crav

Sidenote - I don't know how true it is as I am not a NASCAR fan or racing fan, but I have seen people saying that part of Tony's MO and temper is using his car to intimdate and/or send a message - that he's been known to cause a crash here or there and has been in plenty of pit disputes and battles. It's certainly not an indictment that he absolutely did anything in the race the other night - but it also seemingly isn't unbelievable to some that he would have been trying to 'brush back' the guy for giving him attitude.

The kid has plenty of fault. Stewart certainly has plenty too, at least to the untrained eye. How did every other car pass the guy without revving or spinning out (half-spinning out)? The kid would be alive if he stayed in his car. That doesn't mean that getting out means he deserved to die or that anyone else can get away with a negligent act. The cops have said the investigation is not presently criminal. That doesn't mean there is no chance it becomes such. You could get in an accident on the freeway and the investigation will be non-criminal - until they find a witness saying you were texting or evidence you failed to brake, etc etc.

I'm confident too... but your curse cost us a Sunday and a win.

He very clearly - to an uneducated eye- whipped his car into the guy. It was the back of the car that hit him - not sure how that happens if it's not intentional...

Way too early for a magic number. The magic number would be the number of games left minus 6... So 40ish?

Best record in MLB since end of May - when we were one game under. Haven't lost more than two in a row since then.

Lackey ... No problem. 8 runs, 3 hrs.