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The Great Beauty (La Grande Bellezza)
Visual composition was outstanding. Range of characters and emotions, dizzying. Glimpses into worlds hidden to most, unknown to many and inhabited by few, eye-opening. Ultimate understanding? Pursuit of status probably will not yield satisfaction or happiness. Friends forgive even cruel insults. Pretense can surround, yet art remains.— January 25, 2014 10:31 p.m.
Sweetwater district corruption trial postponed
For more background on the undercurrents in education these days, please read this: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/why_the_unite…— January 25, 2014 10:11 p.m.
Sweetwater district corruption trial postponed
So, as Martin Luther King said, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." To which I would have to add with great sadness, but not, apparently, in the Sweetwater Union High School District. Not here are we seeing justice. We see justice denied, justice curtailed, justice made a mockery of. We see laughably inept public personages get away with all sorts of corrupt acts. Allegedly, one must add for formality's sake. Which I can only think makes the judicial system here in south San Diego County as much of a laughingstock as the Sweetwater School District Board of Trustees, and their greed-ridden leader Ed Brand are a kind of benchmark for everything they should not be. Is that too convoluted to understand? Here, I will make it abundantly clear: *Sweetwater's Board of Trustees and Superintendent Ed Brand are to honesty and truth as the Kardashians are to good taste and talent.* Hmm, not quite there. *The South Bay Judicial System is to clear thinking and intelligent discernment as the Charge of the Light Brigade was to military strategy.* Closer? How about this: *"Bumbling idiocy appears to be the order of the day, as the judicial branch of government cannot get anything done here in Chula Vista. Apparently all the gears have been greased so much that they only operate in reverse. Legal experts remain stymied as to this curiously unusual development. Said one (who preferred to remain nameless), "Well, it's been so long since anyone really cared what went on here. All the political appointees care about is keeping their job and moving up. The motto is 'Keep the money flowing to the right people.' Words to live by, right?"* *Every expectation is that by the time Sweetwater declares bankruptcy, Ed Brand will have shaved his mustache, dyed his remaining hair, changed his name and left town. McCann might still be attempting to play musical chairs for some governmental position, but the music will seem to stop just before he finds a seat. Cartmill will keep getting nocturnal visits from the ghost of Ruth Chapman, who in turn will continue to tell him what he could have accomplished, if he had only had the courage to do the right thing.* *The students can't figure out what happened to their schools, because they are falling apart. Teachers, knowing they are being treated with disrespect by the board, still do their best, but are under no illusions that their work is valued. The public contract has been broken, i.e. the public does not believe in the judicial system. The public does not believe in the educational system. The public sees they are all frauds. No "allegedly" needed. The public sees what it sees.*— January 25, 2014 8:39 p.m.
Sweetwater district corruption trial postponed
Why is it that that disco song from 1974 keeps going through my head: "Don't rock the boat, don't tip the boat over..."? Maybe because it seems like all these people are in the same boat, trying to keep the truth from those of us who only are useful when we pay taxes? Just keep those deals going...is that the governing philosophy today? Nothing about providing the public with the truth? Nothing about stopping all these swindlers? Almost makes me wonder what will happen when the blowback starts. Because continue carrying on like this, and it will. You can count on it.— January 25, 2014 7:40 p.m.
Sweetwater district corruption trial postponed
Too many friendships, too little integrity. Too little respect for the taxpayers, the students, the teachers. Absolute contempt for honest citizens who try to find out what is going on with their educational system and their money. A complete blockade on information regarding the real estate misadventures that proliferate...the public should know exactly who is involved in these, from start to finish. Who is brokering these deals, who is making the money. More conflict of interest...? Why is this school district carrying on as if they were completely free of all legal and ethical constraints? Because there are higher ups who allow this? Has it come to this?— January 25, 2014 6:49 p.m.
Sweetwater district corruption trial postponed
McCann 'negotiated' a deal wherein Gandara's legal expenses get paid by the taxpayers if he (Gandara) gets off? Wow. Can there be any other information needed to declare McCann steer clear of public office permanently? What kind of a complete nincompoop would do such a thing? McCann must have absolutely no concept of how to use public resources with responsibility. Saints Preserve Us. We all know that local politicians won't!— January 25, 2014 6:44 p.m.
Picket at Sweetwater trustee Cartmill's home
"Other People's Money" is the easiest to spend, isn't it, Fast Eddy? Would you agree Pres. Cartmill? How about you, McCann? These partners in all sorts of deals must really get a kick out of going out of their way to do the opposite of what this community wants and needs. What a bunch of unethical lumps. I pray every day for that forensic accounting report going back a couple of decades, to Fast Eddy's first incarnation as Superintendent--you know, the one that was cut short due to the investigations of wrong-doing, that never proceeded? Guess that was just one more in a long line of Fast Eddy's deals. Under the rug? On the QT?— January 25, 2014 2:38 p.m.
Final competition of Chula Vista robotics league
So glad to read this! The human spirit can be indomitable, and good teachers are one big reason why. Good things take place in this school district not because of the superintendent and the board of trustees, but in spite of the superintendent and trustees. Board President Cartmill, do you see yourself for what you are? Do you want to be better than that? Why not remember your teacher and colleague Ruth Chapman, and live up to her example?— January 25, 2014 12:44 a.m.
Picket at Sweetwater trustee Cartmill's home
Yes, that would be a good idea. Is Cartmill smart enough to figure that out?— January 24, 2014 12:24 a.m.
Picket at Sweetwater trustee Cartmill's home
Any of you know any Castle Park graduates of the Class of 1973? Apparently John Fox, the Broncos coach, is one. He is a bit busy these days, but I wonder what he would think of what is going on in the Sweetwater district? When people get a good education, or the basis for a good education, they can rise to the challenges they face. They have confidence. They have leadership skills. They know how to bring out the best in people. How many others have emerged from Sweetwater with the right tools to go on and make a success of themselves? Are we making sure that today's students are getting the same chances--or has this board, run seemingly by the "Know Nothing" party wasted what should have been ample opportunities for the students via utterly stupid real estate ventures, selfish bribe-taking, who knows what financial shenanigans and a corrupt mindset that defies description? I certainly would not want on my conscience the fates of thousands of students who feel they have been short-changed. We need to make sure these students are given the resources they are entitled to--Ed Brand should not be taking everything for himself and all his pals/cronies/co-conspirators.— January 20, 2014 8:23 p.m.