millz58

"Is everyone on dope?!" quoth Mr. Hand... I've had my fill in 3 weeks of all the idiocy teenage students can bring..., and their parents..., and their doctors... and anyway, welcome back to high school.

double ditto, sorry we couldn't have made more of him

wigginton is at least comfortable and maybe capable at the corners, Scott is not, and doesn't offer much beyond his HRs.

Holy crap, that's truly awesome! congrats, love it! I will find budget room and buy you... *'hem* Back to school here for me in a few days, thinking much after reading the cumulative files on my incoming. Lots of framing to be done...

...and he's looked okay so far...

I'm okay with expanding the regular season and reducing the preseason, as long as they let team rosters expand uniformly, meaning, admit more into training (UFAs or whatever) and cut down to a larger number by end of preseason # 2 game than they are currently allowed at preseason's end now. the regular season roster should expand to complement a lengthened regular season.

I liked Reed, kind of a 'go-getter'. Are the Jets ready for us, that's what I'm thinking. bulger looked good, but he should, he's got a good job right now.

Diego Forlan and/or David Villa for MVPs. Neither team goes anywhere without their ultimate performances.

agreed spen, it's the lack of real chances that turn off many people, but let's admit this finals matchup was one of midfielders determining the game, and both attacking ends would get what they could create, so I wasn't surprised that it was a big stalemate for much of the match. also a good bit of bullying and flopping, but the thing that bothered me was the readiness of the ref to pull the card rather than let the teams play through. I think the only thing that would have been lost with less whistles is time; the match may have been resolved in regulation, but I still feel Spain was the deserving team. I still love the game moreso than the current structure (I'd love to go back to golden goal, and I don't like the goal-differential criterion in group play). I can wait for goals as long as the officiating doesn't dictate the results, this year's tournament was pock-marked with ill-fated referree-ing.

Yes, congrats to spain, who many felt rightly was the best team going into this Cup. I confess I thought really germany and brazil seemed to have the most going for them (including history) and was rooting for the Dutch (despite history). I was happy Iniesta got the finals-winning goal, after failing to pull the trigger twice earlier in the game when he clearly had it on foot. I also got really sick of Robben's ref-lobbying. It was an ugly final, but it went to the right team in the end. I think mostly with this Cup I was impressed with Uruguay, disappointed with Italy, and yet again shrugged at the US team.

I think today's 4-2 score is just as legitimate a 'new' oriole way loss... promising, but not enough...

Germany had nothing today, very weak effort. Even without Mueller they should have been pressing more, but they couldn't muster sustained attack, or really much of any attack. Spain played well, but I think this had more to do with the youth of the German team flinching. anyway, the Dutch will be a better opponent for Spain. And Uruguay maybe as well for Germany.

Reed's taking a reasoned and considered approach, and obviously has his own health and general well-being in mind foremost. Good for him.

that would be awesome; it'd never happen, but I would be happy

I guess we know now where Bulger went..., to a better place for sure.

I like the Bulger signing; never understood drafting Smith at all.

Back in town after traveling; I spent the last week-plus of group play in chicago area, got used to having my daughter wake up in the hotel room to the sound of vuvuzelas and me staring at the tv in earnest. I wasn't confident at the beginning that the US would make it out of the group, they got lucky IMO to do just that, given that they have severe early-game deficiencies (those finally caught up with them vs. Ghana), so I'm not really disappointed in their accomplishments, they're still learning how to compete at the world-class level. I saw the Ghana match in a Morgantown bar PACKED with 'fans', and when on the next afternoon I went to the same bar for more soccer, that bar was EMPTY. Most USA fans are not soccer fans, that's understandable. That speaks really to why our national team is the way it is. Meanwhile, Germany-Argentina looks like the match of the Cup so far.

before I became a 12-month employee I used to teach summer school, did that for 5 straight years. I loved it, really. I think the AP scores come out in early july, same time as the HSAs (ETS runs everything). I'm certainly awaiting the state test scores, we have our largest 11th grade to date, and if they go into their senior year dogged by unmet testing requirements it will be rough-going...

Here's my considered advice: think grad school, and think soon, particularly in an area you know you'd want to teach. don't necessarily think education degree, but if so, go for a masters in teaching reading; reading specialists are always in demand. otherwise, go for a masters in a content area you'd like to teach. simultaneously scope out districts in states you are looking at, some states are pickier than others as far as certification is concerned for public schooling (virginia and maryland are pretty demanding regarding teacher credentials). also take note of alternate certification programs (specifically designed to take those who have degrees not in education, who also may have non-teaching-related work experience, but who desire to go into teaching, and train them up quickly); such programs are used regularly, but also battle against the glut of existing union employees going through the revolving-door of musical-chairs system positions. I myself was a hire from the 'outside', using my advanced math degree to get into an alternate cert. program to get my foot in the door to teach in Baltimore city. I think maybe 2% of those that were brought in in my training cohort are still in BCPS, it's not for everyone. And, you have to fight to distinguish yourself and not get weeded out or ground to bits by the nefarious and weighty bureaucracy. I've only been in 10 years now and it feels like a lifetime...; but I still love it.

good lord, the students are finally gone (some silly 9th graders lingered to the very last, earning "service learning hours", they really had nothing better to do...) and grades are in, got to partially clear off my desk. I hate the EOY discussions concerning staff that are leaving under undesirable circumstances; we graduated 93% though so that's a bright side of this year. 10 days of vacation for me, then back to work, prepping for next year; I always like taking a road trip immediately when the school year's done, clears my mind, puts things behind. also, I love hotel rooms, and I'll be in one late Thursday night, ready to wake up at 6:30 am central time and watch more world cup action. Or at least by 9:00 am when the US plays slovenia.

I'm sure that in fact they do, for instance how often does a Terps fan really want to watch georgetown or GW or another local team that's not in the ACC? the gamble (and it's a good one) is that college sports fans will do next to anything to stick with their team and conference and view accordingly. So if their team jumps to another conference, they will follow. But it's moot, because I agree that Terps would never give up on their very lucrative ACC rivalries.

OMG THAT WIN BY THE SWISS WAS HUGE, EASILY THE BIGGEST UPSET SO FAR!!! I can't wait to watch the replay tonight, only listened to it on espn radio. Clockwork defense by switzerland, apparently, and one huge goal. I hated that there was not only an absurd amount of stoppage time at the end (5 f'n minutes!) but that the refs really milked it out, giving the Spaniards every chance imagineable to tie it up. but to no avail, and now group H seems to be Chile's for the taking, unless the Swiss can come up with another upset.

The B/W market isn't all for Terps. Maybe moreso for football, but I imagine the basketball market is extremely fractured with the DC area teams commanding attention

Good for Bobby, he shouldn't have to deal with our circle of hell after enduring the Mets'...

That is truly cool, I didn't know that part about the Flyers being involved, I only knew I saw Borque in the "bigfoot" blue and burgundy and I was like "holy shit", but that was the Av's year and I was happy for Ray. He was truly one of the greats.