Keeping the nation's pride in check since 1812

Oh, British Petroleum

Friday, August 26, 2011

don't need a test to become a redneck

Ordinarily I am the first in line to get angry about the systematic mistrust of qualified educators that drives the high-stakes testing system that is so popular with professionals that have never taught a day in their life, but this article came across the internets as a true "Oh, Louisiana" moment.

Not only have administrators allegedly asked (and/or duped) teachers to cheat on the LEAP test:
The Miller-McCoy investigation began in the spring of 2010 when several staff members alleged that, just days before students were to take high-stakes tests, school administrators had given teachers math questions or essay topics that were uncannily similar to those that appeared on the state exam days later. Three staff members came in to meet with RSD personnel, while two others provided interviews; all told, nearly 20 percent of the school's teachers raised concerns. The administrators asked teachers to use the questions to prepare students for the exam, according to the RSD report on the matter and interviews with three of the teachers.
But they have also botched the investigation:
A board subcommittee worked with a local attorney to conduct the investigation, which found "no clear evidence" that administrators tried to cheat. But the board didn't interview the teachers making the allegations -- just the school's two co-principals and its testing coordinator.
Louisiana Edyookashun at its finest.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

odds are there will be a crossover with COPS

Via the Times-Picayune:

Edwin Edwards, new fiancee have possible future as reality TV stars He is a twice-divorced great-grandfather, weeks away from his 84th birthday, who served 16 years as governor of Louisiana and recently returned home from an unplanned eight-year sojourn in federal custody.
She is a buxom blonde from Alexandria, a Republican in her early 30s, whose likes include Willie Nelson, the Real Housewives of Atlanta, and traveling with her sweetheart.
And one day soon this happy couple -Edwin Washington Edwards and his new fiancee, Trina Grimes Scott - could be the latest semi-celebrities to take their act to reality TV.
Apparently Louisiana is looking to take the title of “Trashiest Reality TV State” from New Jersey.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

i'm only violent when i don't get my way

Via the Times-Picayune:


A study by the Institute for Economics and Peace finds that Louisiana is the least peaceful state in the country, while Maine is the most peaceful state, according to a report in The Lookout. The group's standard for measuring a state's serenity? What they call the "absence of violence." According to the report, the group used data compiled from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the FBI and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and focused on homicide rates, percentage of population that is jailed, availability of small arms, number of police officers and overall violent crime rate.

Louisiana: God's gift to Mississippi.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

pie in your face

That pizza better have the right amount of pepperoni on it, y'all.

Hollygrove man blinds pizza deliveryman with bleach, steals pie, Neighborhood website reports

Published: Thursday, February 10, 2011, 12:44 PM     Updated: Thursday, February 10, 2011, 3:44 PM
The Uptown Messenger website reports that a 19-year-old Hollygrove man called Domino's last week and ordered a pizza to be delivered to the 8600 block of Palm Street.
alexis.JPGTerrence Alexis
When the deliveryman arrived with the pie, police say the man threw a cup of bleach into his eyes, temporarily blinding him and causing him to drop the pizza, the website reports. The alleged attacker, Terrence Alexis, has been booked with simple robbery and second-degree battery, court records show. Bond has been set at $200,000.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

six more weeks of hurricanes

Via the Times-Picayune:

Did T-Boy Nutria see his shadow?

Published: Wednesday, February 02, 2011, 10:03 AM     Updated: Wednesday, February 02, 2011, 12:36 PM

Zookeeper Paul Benoit listens for a prognostication from T-Boy the nutria as the Audubon Zoo put on its annual Louisiana twist on Groundhog Day on Wednesday, February 2, 2011. The 2-week old nutria emerged from a mini Mardi Gras float, complete with a Super Bowl vanity plate, and did not see its shadow, meaning an early end to winter.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

yep, it's racist

Louisiana Senate staffer suspended over Obama e-mail

Published: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 11:13 PM     Updated: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 11:19 PM
A Louisiana State Senate employee was suspended without pay Tuesday after sending an e-mail to hundreds of government workers apparently trying to show President Barack Obama as white and suggesting that opposition to him doesn't equate to racism.
Several African-American lawmakers replied to the e-mail, complaining that it was offensive.
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The message, sent by Senate researcher Tammy Crain-Waldrop and obtained by The Associated Press, includes a doctored photo of Obama with light skin, blue eyes and a different hairstyle and says, "Do you like him any better now? No? Me neither ..... Then you're not a racist."