China is improving in leaps and bounds in the area of human rights. Gone are the days of four tanks stomping one guy, they’ve finally progressed to burning protesters to death. Yea!How in the world did the People’s Republic of China get to host the 2008 Olympic Games? In Tibet and now other provinces, people are being rounded up and taken away, there’s a clampdown on the free press, and the fear of a cruel government is looming.    China is blaming the exiled Dalai Lama for the unrest, while the Dalai Lama is calling for dialog. Through all of it, the Dalai Lama still thinks that the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, shouldn’t be boycotted:

“The Olympics should not be called off,” he told a news conerence in Dharamsala, the north Indian town from where he has run a government-in-exile since fleeing Tibet in 1959.”The Chinese people… need to feel proud of it. China deserves to be a host of the Olympic Games.” 

Now, if I were Chinese, I’d be wondering why my horrifying country was being rewarded by the rest of the world by allowing it to host the 2008 Olympic Games. I think I may actually feel more proud in general if I knew that other people somewhere thought I was an actual human being and wanted me to have basic human rights.The International Olympic Committee (IOC), should never have considered The People’s Republic of China as a host country. The Tiananmen Square Massacre was only a scant 19 years ago, and they’ve evolved as far as this:

China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported at least 10 civilians were burned to death on Friday. The Dalai Lama’s exiled Tibetan government in India said Chinese authorities killed at least 30 Tibetans and possibly as many as 100. The figures could not be independently verified. In the Tibetan capital Lhasa on Saturday, police manned checkpoints and armored personnel carriers rattled on mostly empty streets as people stayed indoors under a curfew, witnesses said. The show of force imposed a tense quiet.Several witnesses reported hearing occasional bursts of gunfire. One Westerner who went to a rooftop in Lhasa’s old city said he saw troops with automatic rifles moving through the streets firing, though did not see anyone shot.  

Inspiring.    

It seems like it was only yesterday when China was trying to poison our children with lead infested toys. Ah, memories.I think the world is already doing enough for China by shipping our manufacturing jobs over there so they can turn around and sell us toxic toys and dentures and pet food.        
Last summer, China executed THIS guy to solve their international image problems even though he left office over two years earlier.And, can I just add, their industry is so filthy (that’s part of the reason why their toxic stuff is so cheap), that there are Olympic athletes going through special training and dropping out of events because they suffer from asthma and other respiratory problems and the smog in Beijing can be brutal. 

The Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie, 34, is a favourite for a gold medal this summer but is likely to focus instead on the 10,000 metres because he suffers from asthma.“The pollution in China is a threat to my health and it would be difficult for me to run 42km in my current condition,” he said. “But I am not pulling out of the Olympics altogether.”   

China was just a poor choice all the way around.

Steve Forbes won the Delaware Republican Primary in 1996. .

“You know the old joke, when Bill Gates goes into a bar, the average net worth of a patron goes up 2 billion dollars,” quipped Steve Forbes in a speech he delivered to the Delaware Republican Party Saturday night at the annual Lincoln Day Dinner. And while other sites may have flashy video of his speech, all I have is AUDIO of it, and my own interview with Steve Forbes. (And yeah, I ask him if Rudy is broke).

Forbes spoke about his relationship to Rudy Guiliani’s presidential campaign, “I’m one of the co-chairs of his campaign and senior policy advisor and saw first hand what he did in New York City and was very impressed with the major things he did there.” AUDIO

I asked Forbes if Giuliani supported his idea of a flat tax for Americans and he told me a little about where Giuliani stands on taxation. “He’s a backer of radical simplification of the tax codes,” according to Forbes and he went on to say that Giuliani is “proposing the biggest tax cut in American history.” AUDIO

We talked about the race between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and Forbes said the race would be a “fierce one,” but predicted that Obama would win South Carolina. AUDIO

And finally, is the Guiliani presidential campaign in financial trouble? Well, not according to Forbes, “No, they’re focusing resources on Florida…They have over $7 million on hand.” AUDIO

Every December media outlets recap their favorite and/or biggest stories for the year. In that same tradition, I’ve decided to put up some of my favorite blog pictures of the year and 10 posts I’ve made that I feel changed the course of world history and, of course, saved all of humanity.

My Favorite Pictures of 2007

A beautiful day at Tower Road.

A Civil War Reenactment during Milton’s 200th Anniversary.

Governor Ruth Ann Minner running away from me and out of the Georgia House in Millsboro the night of the 41st District special election.

Even after his resignation from the State House for ethics issues, John Atkins’ supporters launched a failed write in campaign to send him back to Dover. His campaign signs cropped up all over the 41st.

The table where Laura Bush ate breakfast at the Royal Treat on Wilmington Avenue in Rehoboth Beach.

The Cohen brothers, they found the ill fated Rissos dolphin washed up at Tower Road.

The Rissos dolphin dying on the beach at Tower Road.

The SINKING South Side approach of the “new” Indian River Inlet bridge and the road it tried to pull down with it.

John Andretti, I met him. How cool.

The “Dic Dang” sandwich at the Corner Market Bistro in Milton.

Lighting the balloons up like lanterns during Milton’s 200th Anniversary celebration.

Joe Biden talking about Iraq at Browseabout Books on Rehoboth Avenue.

Jared Morris and Dan Gaffney having fun at the Best of Delaware celebration in Dover. (And yes, Dan always has that light shining above him, it’s the most amazing thing…).

The French invade Rehoboth Beach.

Disheveled Barbies from Washington DC spotted loitering on Columbia Avenue after their Dream House furniture was recalled.

Dr Wray and Stell Parker Selby changing seats at the Cape Henlopen School Board meeting in December after Wray resigned the Presidency.

My Favorite Posts of 2007

# Ten: Your Sussex County Council

# Neuf: The French visit Rehoboth

# Eight: The Atkins Scandal

# Seven: The Indian River Inlet Bridge

# Six: Biden at Browseabout Books

# Five: European Football

# Four: Laura Bush visits Rehoboth Beach

# Three: My interview with John Andretti

# Two: Toy Recalls

# One: The Global Warming

The new seating arrangements for the Cape Henlopen School Board. (From left to right: Coveleski, Wray, Brittingham, Stone, Parker Selby, Redden, Conlon, Prettyman) 

WRAY OF LIGHT

Ms. Stell Parker Selby in her new, maybe temporary position as Cape Henlopen School Board President. 

As earlier reported, Cape Henlopen School Board President, Gary Wray, has resigned his leadership position, and Board Vice President Stell Parker Selby will be taking that seat until a new President is chosen.

“Remember that we are elected to serve our school community. That is my motto.” - Acting Cape Henlopen School Board President Stell Parker Selby AUDIO

Outspoken Board member, Noble Prettyman, called on Dr. Wray to resign last month after a particularly contentious meeting citing ethics violations:

“Dr. Wray’s actions last night give me no choice but to ask that he be removed as president of the school board,” Prettyman said during an interview Friday, Nov. 9. “As parents spoke, he put his glasses on his head and rolled his eyes in a degrading way. It is unacceptable behavior, and I absolutely feel he cannot be allowed to be the board’s president any longer.”

In addition to inappropriate behavior to Cape’s parents and taxpayers, Prettyman said, Wray’s conduct in taking unilateral action, violating the trust of the taxpayers and soliciting unilateral action by the Stone violated the ethical requirements for board members.

After Wray’s resignation Thursday night, Prettyman had this to say:

“I know he did the right thing, because it’s not about Dr. Wray.” - Board member Noble Prettyman AUDIO

 

TEACHERS USE GRANT MONEY WISELY 

Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation Mini grant Award Winners were on hand last night to tell parents, teachers, board members and the public how they are spending their grant money in the classroom. Milton Elementary School second grade teacher Jackie Shockley tells the crowd how she spends the money she received:

“I use the grant money to purchase sound systems for all of the second grade classrooms…to help at risk kids.” - Second Grade Teacher Jackie Shockley AUDIO

CAPE TEACHER HELPS BUST ALLEGED RAPISTS 

Cape teacher Robert Maull, Jr., (left) shakes hands with Detective John Miller of the Lewes Police Department.

Last October a young criminal broke into the home of a 72 year old Lewes woman, tried to rape her, failed, smashed her in the head with a hammer a few times, robbed her then made her drive him to Rehoboth Beach. Well, the nasty pig who allegedly committed that heinous crime was caught by police with the help of a Cape Henlopen School District teacher, Bob Maull.

“I called Bob and he was there in seconds….As soon as he looked at it he told me who these people were.” - Lewes Police Detective John Miller AUDIO

The alleged hammer weilding, attempted rapist, Devonaire Augustus Jones of Milton, was also identified as one of two young men who allegedly broke into the home of a Milton woman last January and raped her at gunpoint. Maull identified Jones and another man, Robbie Robinson, also of Milton, in that crime, too.

Way to go Mr. Maull!

DR. SEIBERT HONORED 

From left to right: Dr. Ed Seibert, Superintendent George Stone, acting Board President Parker Selby. 

Cape Henlopen Business Director, Dr. Ed Seibert, was recognized last night for his years of hard work for the Cape Henlopen School District. Seibert, who filed a complaint of “retaliation” against Superintendent George Stone this month with the School Board, was all smiles as Dr. Stone and Acting President Stell Parker Selby honored his hard work.

“…for six years and four months of outstanding service to the Cape Henlopen School District.” - Superintendent George Stone reading Dr. Seibert’s plaque AUDIO

TIME CAPSULE
 

The historic Milton Theatre on Union Street in downtown Milton. 

On January 12th, the Cape Henlopen School Board is invited to attend the opening of a time capsule from 1958. The event is open to the public and will take place at the historic Milton Theatre.

HOW MANY 4TH GRADE TEACHERS DOES HOB HAVE?

Holy teacher shortage, Batman! HO Brittingham Elementary School only has TWO 4th grade teachers. And, yes, this is the same school that had 12 out of the 14 violent felonies committed by students in the district last year.

Why the shortage? Well, apparently one 4th grade teacher requested to be sent back to 1st grade, and the open 4th grade position wasn’t filled, sound familiar?

While giving their presentation on the “H.O. Brittingham Elementary School Improvement Report,” 4th grade teacher Tracey van Rees took the opportunity to ask for…no, not another teacher…but an after school math program for at risk students.

DISTRICT SPENDS OVER 5K LAST YEAR ON RECRUITING

Just thought I’d mention that little tidbit…it’s kind of funny since the district doesn’t seem to be hiring. See above.

CAPE HENLOPEN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION SPEAKS OUT

Sarah Ross, a Cape Henlopen School Distrit teacher and a member of the Cape Henlopen Education Association, addressed the Board Thursday night about teachers “drowning” in paperwork from federal, state and local regulations and initiatives passed without input from teachers. Delaware State Education Association President Barbara Groff, attended the Board meeting Thursday night to show support for the Cape teachers and voice her concerns:

“They have more to do then they can possibly accomplish.” - Barbara Groff, President, Delaware State Education Association AUDIO

Groff also said that teachers around the state are, “worried about their Cape counterparts.”

COVELESKI VOTES “NO” 

Even though other board members seemed to share his doubts, Pete Coveleski was the only “no” vote on the Cape Henlopen School District’s new “Bullying Prevention Policy,” saying it would be “folly to approve this as written.” Coveleski’s reason for voting “no” is that the policy is written too broadly:

“They policy as it’s written now is really open to interpretation.” - Board member Pete Coveleski AUDIO

The School Board can re examine the policy at a future meeting.

? 

This is apparently some kind of Beacon Middle School charity fundraiser. It’s lovely and greasy.

The Cape Henlopen School Board met Thursday night in Milton.

All of your Cape Henlopen School District news in one easy to swallow post…

CAPE HAD HOW MANY “VIOLENT FELONIES” IN ONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL?

Sandra Jones, Co-Vice President of Advocates for Equal Justice-Delaware, kicked off the “Citizen’s Participation for Improvement” part of the Cape Henlopen School Board meeting last night with some jarring news:

Current profiles of the 2006-2007 academic school year for Cape Henlopen School District revealed a total of 14 violent felonies. Thirteen (13) of these felonies were allegedly committed by elementary students. Twelve were from H.O. Brittingham Elementary, and one out of Milton Elementary School. In addition, data suggests that there were numberous violations of Delaware State Laws, which were confident lead to criminal convictions, and a host of African Americans obtaining juvenile records due to the disparities that exist in disciplining students.

Twelve violent felonies in one elementary school? Sheesh. Ms. Jones’ solution is “surveillance cameras in the classrooms, hall ways, play ground area, and lunch room:”

The surveillance cameras would restore confidence in the integrity of teachers, and staff within the school. Important is the fact that the cameras will help maintain safety throughout the school campus; thus providing a safe learning environment for all students as well as discourage misbehavior.

And if you don’t think surveillance cameras are a good idea, according to Ms. Jones, it may be because of “White Privilege:”

Because many of you here have and continue to enjoy “White Privilege” you may say, we don’t need surveillance in our elementary school. For the purpose of this request, “White Privilege,” is defined as the ability of whites in America to ignore the issue of race because it privileges them in ways that are most often unrecognized. Things that Caucasian administrators, teachers, staff, and children take for granted, such as fair treatment in Cape Henlopen School District, are not privileges granted to African American students.

So we need surveillance cameras in Cape elementary schools to deter violent felonies and to make sure there’s no racism involved in deciding which kid is suspended and which kid ends up a felon. Is the Board still sure Cape doesn’t need those extra elementary school teachers they aren’t hiring to balance the budget?

CAPE DISTRICT RELEASES ADMINISTRATIVE SALARY INFORMATION, OUTRAGE ENSUES

The long awaited salary information for Cape Administrators was released last night and the reaction was explosive from both the board, and the crowd.

The bottom line? From fiscal year 2006 to the current school year, the 30 listed Cape administrators received almost a half million dollars worth of pay raises from state and local funds while the District was operating in the red.

That went over as a big ouch to the Cape elementary parents who are already upset over the District balancing the budget by not hiring new teachers and increasing class sizes. Board member Sgt. Spencer Brittingham voiced his frustration:

“I asked the question, ‘where do we control the local salary?’ and I was told we did not, and now I see we could have controlled $61,000 dollars of it and how many teachers would that have kept?” - Sgt. Spencer Brittingham audio

Stell Parker-Selby unloaded during the discussion of Administrator’s salaries. (left to right: Coveleski, Selby, Brittingham)

Fellow Board member Stell Parker-Selby was also visibly upset:

“…we’re in debt as a District and you’re still getting your raises all the time and guess what it’s doing, it’s putting us farther in debt.” - Stell Parker-Selby audio

District Superintendent Dr. Stone explained in his presentation given before the salary information was released, that Cape Administrator pay falls somewhere in the middle when compared to the rest of the state.

GOT PART OF MY FOIA REQUEST, OTHER PART TO FOLLOW

Even though Dr. Stone responded to my letter, it was not a “formal” FOIA request.

It really is all about the definition of “is,” when it comes to nailing down politicians. I slapped the Cape Henlopen School District with a FOIA request for administrative salaries, I got a preliminary response from Superintendent Stone, but alas, it turns out that apparently I hadn’t made a “formal request:”

“We will not be presenting reports on each administrator,” Stone said during a Nov. 5 interview.

“We plan to show how salaries are calculated and where Cape’s salaries fall in comparison to other school districts,” Stone said. “No one has made a formal FOIA request to us and this is not in response to Mrs. Brittingham’s request.”

It wasn’t “formal” because it wasn’t on the right form. You’d figure someone at the district office would have mentioned that form thingie to me when I hand delivered the letter.

So for anyone out there who wants to FOIA the Cape Henlopen School Board, you should use THIS FORM ON PAGE 456 so it’s “formal.” Incidentally, I also submitted a FOIA request (on the proper form), for information about catered Administrative events and I received part of that request, Dr. Stone has promised me the other parts shortly.

Milton Elementary School mom, Laura Brittingham. She’s been speaking out against larger class sizes and wasteful spending by the board.    
 
When Laura Brittingham started her campaign against wasteful spending by the Cape Henlopen School Board, it was because 4th grade class sizes were increasing at Milton Elementary School and the budget was the reason. Thursday night she was at the Cape Henlopen School Board meeting to discuss the new Chinese language program and its costs.

Now for the record, when she heard her children would be taught Chinese this year thanks to a federal grant, she was excited, until she learned that the more than $800,000 dollars in grant money had to be matched by the District, either in cash or things like classroom space and administrative and teacher’s time. To her and many other parents, the program seems frivolous at a time when the budget is being balanced by not hiring needed teachers.

Mrs. Brittingham had some questions for the District about the program, and they were answered in a presentation by Dr. Kelly, the man coordinating it. She asked what the long term plan was for the Chinese program at Cape, and what it would cost to implement a Chinese program in the entire District (which you would assume was the goal), and you can LISTEN to her question by clicking HERE.

And what, exactly, is the long term plan for the Chinese program at Cape, and what are the costs going to be for the District to continue the program after the Federal grant has dried up? According to Dr. Kelly, he doesn’t know, and you can hear him talk about that HERE.

This is Dr. Kelly, the man who is running the Chinese language program for Cape. He got a trip to China paid for by “the Chinese Ministry of Education.” I really wish there was an “Ancient Roman Ministry of Education,” because if kids are going to be force fed a language, I, personally, think Latin would be a better choice than Chinese. (And, no, you can’t send a public school teacher to the Vatican on a junket).  

You can hear all of Mrs. Brittingham’s questions about the program HERE, and you can listen to Dr. Kelly answer those questions HERE, HERE, and HERE. Dr. Kelly’s answers also have interaction with Board members, and some of the stuff with Sgt. Brittingham and Noble Prettyman gets pretty heated and Board President, Dr. Wray, tries to shut down discourse so Kelly can continue with his presentation. There are some highlight clips of those exchanges with Mr. Prettyman below….

The one thing that comes out in Dr. Kelly’s presentation is that he and the the Board have no idea where to go with this program. Board member Noble Prettyman address exactly that problem HERE, and his comments are absolutely classic.

But the lack of planning wasn’t the only issue about the program Prettyman questioned, he was also upset that teachers had to sit in the Chinese class with their students because the Chinese instructors aren’t certified to teach. Mr. Prettyman discusses the unwise use of the teacher’s time as “glorified para professionals,” HERE. And it’s OK, Cape parents, no teacher “prep time” will be affected by the Chinese program, just instructional time. Whew!

Cape School Board member Noble Prettyman. He doesn’t understand why we’re using teachers as “glorified para professionals” and taking time and resources away from other areas.

Also on Noble Prettyman’s mind Thursday night was this idea that instructors can be brought over from China (yes, we’re outsourcing teaching now), and it wouldn’t cost that much. Prettyman debunks the theory that it would be cheap to import Chinese teachers HERE.

Prettyman also echos concerns of parents in THIS CLIP where he points out that the District is short money for other things, (like teachers and books, maybe?).

Probably the best idea all night came from Board member Pete Coveleski, who basically made the point that we shouldn’t end up force feeding every Cape student the Chinese language for 12 years, and maybe just concentrate, in later years, on the students who enjoy it or have an aptitude for it.

So what’s the bottom line about the elementary school Chinese language program at Cape? It’s poorly planned. That’s clear.

And just one more thing…the age old question of “How many Cape School Board members does it take to divide 41 by 3?” is finally answered in THIS CLIP. I think it was Dr. Wray who finally got the answer.

A disheveled group of Barbies from DC were seen on Columbia Avenue in Rehoboth.

You know the problems with China have gone too far when almost all of the contents of Barbie’s Dream House have to be confiscated due to high lead content.

The 11 affected toys include Barbie kitchen, living room and other furniture items as well as Fisher-Price preschool Geo Trax Locomotive toys and Bongo Band drums.

Barbie bathroom sets are being ripped out of Dream Houses all across the United States.

Of note in the recall was the Barbie bathroom set, a turn of events that has left bewildered Barbies around the country aimlessly searching for places to bathe. As one frantic Malibu Barbie put it, “I haven’t shaved my legs in two days…the situation is serious…when will we learn to buy American?”

A recent Zogby poll says that a majority of Americans feel like giving China the one finger salute by supporting a boycott of that Country’s dangerous products.

A Zogby poll that came out today shows that “nearly two-thirds” of Americans would back a boycott of Chinese products and that a majority of Americans just don’t trust the products that China is cranking out:

Asked by pollster Zogby International whether they were concerned about buying Chinese products, 82 percent of respondents said yes and only 30 percent said they believed food imports from China were safe.

According to the poll, “51 percent” of the people polled have doubts about China’s efforts to clean up their manufacturing. And a surprising, “70 percent of respondents said they were confident in non-food products from China.” But the poll was taken BEFORE Fisher-Price recalled 967,000 toys made in China for high levels of lead in the paint.

It’s time to take a stand, stop buying Chinese crap that will kill you or give your kid organ failure, and BUY AMERICAN.

Yes, that was 967,000 toys from China being recalled by mammoth toy maker Fisher-Price due to more lead paint problems:

Toy-maker Fisher-Price is recalling 83 types of toys — including the popular Big Bird, Elmo, Dora and Diego characters — because their paint contains excessive amounts of lead.

The recall being announced Thursday involves 967,000 plastic preschool toys made by a Chinese vendor and sold in the United States between May and August. It is the latest in a wave of recalls that has heightened global concern about the safety of Chinese-made products.

Thomas The Tank Engine shouldn’t have lead paint problems anymore, but 967,000 other toys from China do…

I’ve covered the issue of killer Chinese products and horrifying working conditions in that country HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE. Does it look like there may be a problem?

You can check out the list of toys that Fisher-Price is recalling HERE. You can buy lead paint test kits at your local hardware store, they’re cheap and easy and I strongly advise it.

The Chinese want you to know that even though some of their products can cause organ failure, death, or injury, they’re working hard executing people who had nothing to do with it to regain your confidence so please stop picking on them.

The Chinese are apparently upset over “groundless smear attacks” against their toxic and dangerous products including “Every one of the 24 toys recalled for safety reasons in the United States” as of June of this year.

China warned the United States on Thursday against “groundless smear attacks” against Chinese products and said it was working responsibly to address concerns over a spate of recent food safety scares.

Does “groundless smear attack” apply to bringing up their horrifying human rights record or the terrible working conditions in many facilities across the country? I guess we’re supposed to just bury our heads in the sand and pretend that executing a guy who wasn’t in charge since 2005 makes all of the difference.