TheAnvil

Ooooh...tequila...that would taste good about now...morning tequila to spice up the day. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

I give you fair warning: Don't anger my fan club!! Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Now you've done it. Expect lots of ranting about the impending conservative theocracy that the political right wants to impose upon the nation. Probably references to this crackpot sight, PFAW, some Alliance for the Separation of Church and State, etc. Should be a hoot and a holler. Thanks, Micro... Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

The judicial branch of government legislating such a thing...quite humorous. Especially given the context in which you make it. Not sure if you've heard, but Judge Alito seems to be a conservative judge nominated by a conservative President. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Ask them if they think you look better in your koala or panda-skin coat. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

I think it was called Salmiaki or something like that. I had to wash it down with tequila. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

If you're uncomfortable around these folks, then save your money for another trip, another day, dude. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

How am I supposed to know what happened if no pics were taken? I mean, I was there, but somebody made me drink lots of beer/tequila/boubon and my memories are a bit fuzzy... Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Terve, Jaaska! Hauska tutustua. Didn't mean to ignore you earlier. Interesting article you've linked us to. I agree that a well educated populace is necessary for a nation to thrive and prosper. I also think that the public education system in America needs to be fixed - not abolished. For children in public education systems that are not working - such as the disctricts in FL from whence the 700 kids in question came - fixes in the future don't help these kids now. Vouchers are a now solution for children whose parents use them. I've not data other than my own experiences both as a student who transferred from a private to a public school and from serving on a scholarship selection committee for a couple of years and seeing the general quality of students coming out of the private systems vs those from the public systems. I interviewed hundreds of kids and the difference was evident. I think the education system in America needs a bit of an overhaul. I really like the way the German system works, with the students separated after Grundshule into the Gymnasium, Realschule, and Fachschule. Don't think that would be very easy to implement here in the US, however. I think a couple of things that would be extremely easy to implement over here would be high school exit exams and adding mathematics, reading comprehension, and U.S. history into the written driver's license examination for non-high school graduates. I'd be in favor of a high school exit exam required for graduation- kind of akin to the German Abitur but not as demanding as everyone would be taking it and not just the college bound folks. If you can't pass it after four years, you stay on for a fifth taking courses related to your weak areas. Anyone taking the fifth year would not be allowed to participate in sports or extra-curricular activities sponsored by the school. If, after the fifth year they fail to pass, they get a certificate of completion but no diploma. The certificate of completion would not meet the minimum requirements for military service or entry into any college. High school kids over here in the US value that driver's license quite highly. Link the ability to get that to having to learn math, science, U.S. history, etc. and you'd immediately have a bunch of highly motivated students. The problem we face over here is multifaceted and requires a multi-pronged effort to overcome. I think the public system can and should be fixed and improved upon. In the interim, I support the vouchers system and am quite sad it has been shackled by the FL SC at the behest of the infernal NEA. Hope you had a great Sunday - and everyone else too. I did four nice jumps at Palatka. Didn't get to Zhills this weekend because one of my tenants had a problem I had to fix, but I enjoy going to Palatka too. Jutellaan toistekin. Moikka.

You only have photographic evidence! My memory says it never happened! Prove it! Er...uggg...uhhh...you do have photographs....er...dammit. Tequila...I love thee... Fellas, Hollister kicks ass all the time. The DZO is awesome, the plane is awesome, the vibe is awesome, the jumpers are awesome - go there! I oscillate DZ's because I travel and stuff, but I tell you this - if you are in Cali and miss a Hollister shin-dig, you are missing out. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

I accept money for sex too. You know that rumor going around ALL the women nowdays - once you go short and white you never go back. If you haven't heard the rumor but would help spread it, I would appreciate it. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

May I recommend drinking tequila with reckless abandon? Sorry you're down, dude. But if you drink tequila, I think you'll feel better. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Hi Lindsey! Whoa, that's interesting! You and I both attended poor schools with different experiences. I'm glad your little one is doing well.

Byron and the Great American Boogie in Davis. Anytime Hollister, CA throws a shin-dig, boogie or not, it's worth going to. Zhills for Easter. Dirty Sanchez Brothers in Sebastian. Halloween in Thomaston is supposed to be good - I'm going this year. The Hog Flop Boogie in Palatka, FL has gotten better every year - another great one if you come out East.

Yeah, dude, that is scary as hell. I think I heard the average credit card debt per household was about US$8K. I really think our borrowing as a nation is scary as hell.

Dude, I'm so sorry for that. I recommend you drink tequila and think on it in the morning. And tell Chuck and Katie I say hello. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Ahhh...always good to get a chuckle after a day of jumping spoiled by one of my tenants. Thank you so much FunJumper. I believe I haven't chuckled this hard at a post here in SC since you neither knew who the Attorney General of the U.S. was nor that Mr. Berger was a convicted criminal. If you'd take the link and go a bit further up the thread, you'd find me slamming GWB and the Republican Congress. Not an uncommon thing if you'd actually read a few of my posts here in the SC. I am glad you're such a fan though - always nice to have a fan club, even if I don't agree politically with its membership. Since you've shown yourself such an Anvil-fan, I'll address a few of the more humorous points you've brought up. Not going to respond to your assertion that my parents are lazy and didn't care or do anything about my public school (the exact opposite is true, in fact) nor to your assertion that my college education didn't arm me with critical thinking skills. Might be tempted at a personal attack and I wouldn't want to attack one of my biggest fans - at least not here in the forums. A respect for the rules, you see. Don't worry about saying bad things about myself and my parentage - attacking the Anvil is OK and I forgive you like a good Catholic that I am...er...actually I'm a horrid Catholic, but I forgive you anyway. Nobody really cares - me included. I'd be a bit more careful about saying the same thing about other DZ.com'ers though. You're a ton of fun and I hope you keep posting here. Enough cheery banter. Let us anon to some stuff about vouchers in FL... You start out by make a lot of incorrect assertions about conservatives, the war in Iraq, and how screwed up the U.S. is thanks to GWB. You end up by stating that since I'm not a lawyer - you're correct, I'm not - that my opinion doesn't count. You're not a political scientist, so can you please tell us how you're qualified to state such things about the state of the US, our foreign relations, and the safety of the world? After all, if my opinion on legal rulings has no merit because I'm not a lawyer, then neither do yours on politics, foreign relations, etc. because you are an IT fellow and not a political scientist. I make the preceding assertion for mere pedagogical - and humorous - reasons. I actually DO think your opinions count on such things - as do mine on the dumbass ruling by the FL Supreme Court in this case. Since you didn't seem to find flaw with my argument presented in my response to my dear sweet Nightingale (a very astute student of the law and beautiful woman to boot, inside and out), I'll assume I'm correct until you show me otherwise. Or somebody else, but I always give my fan club members' opinions first look. Aren't you glad you're a member? As an added member benefit, I suggest you take a look at the Rep/Dem breakdown in the votes for the Voting Rights Act and National Civil Rights Act. Wouldn't want my fans making false statements. I know this might surprise you, but the governmet of the people of Florida, consisting of elected officials elected by the people of Florida, enacted legislation for the people of Florida that entitled parents of students in schools failing to meet academic standards to vouchers to pay for the education of their child elsewhere at a private school of the parent's choosing. That of, by, and for the people thing. Now you, who are neither a FL resident, educator, lawyer, nor elected official in th state of FL, disagree with those legislators - and the GOV (a resident of Florida elected by the people of Florida to act as Governor for the people of Florida), many of whom are themselves lawyers. Remember your 'Anvil is not a lawyer' point? Anyhoo, those legislators and the Governor sure don't agree with the FL Supreme Court. Not being a lawyer, I'm not sure if they can seek certiorari with the SCOTUS on such a thing, but hopefully they'll ammend the constitution so it would be unneccessary. In summary, the majority of legislators in FL, the Governor of FL, and I, TheAnvil, disagree with you about vouchers being necessary or useful. I am living proof that kids can be stuck in a poor public school and succeed. The rest of my high school chums are proof that poor schools can really harm their students. Not everybody is as smart as I am and I'm really sure that not everybody has parents like I had - involved as much as possible in my education when not working two jobs and farming to boot; not very lazy or unengaged, as you assert). Now, if you'd care to do a forum search, the great BillVon and I had a banter about how we would improve education overall a year or so ago that was pretty darned good. He and I agreed on a lot of things as I recall. Look there if you're interested - as a fan of mine you should be. I think I'll close with that. Thanks for being a fan, though I wish you'd read a bit more of my posts so you know a bit more about my line of thinking. Don't worry about the parentage and critical thing either. Even if you weren't a fan I'd forgive you. And don't worry, I'll give you an autograph too if we ever meet. No tequila required. Speaking of tequila...rehmwa...it's TEQUILA TIME HERE!!!! Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

I don't really care, truth be told. I would say they spend roughly the same. Perhaps a bit less with the difference made up by % income invested.

Incorrect. Had their been no evidence of the schools failing, then the kids would not have qualified for the vouchers. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

There are 700 kids in Florida who might disagree with your assertion that voucher programs don't work. All from districts in which the public schools have failed by the government's own admission. Now I'm really off to the beach. My legs need to stretch a bit. Then to Zhills.

I've a lot to say with two posts in the thread - this one makes three. Hmm...perhaps your definition of 'a lot' differs from my own. School vouchers should be allowed in FL because the government has taken on the burden of providing a uniform education for all children in Florida. It says that right in the FL constitution, which you would know had you read it. When public schools FAIL to perform, that constitutional requirement is not being met, i.e. the government is FAILING to live up to its responsibilities. Vouchers allow the government to mitigate that failing. They also simultaneously reduce class size in the failing schools for the children whose parents choose not to avail themselves of the vouchers. If you would like a voucher program to hire a security firm then call you congressman and ask him to introduce a bill to fund such a program. I don't think one necessary as the onus for home and personal security ultimately falls upon the homeowner or tenant, but think however you like. FYI, I tutor calculus and physics, not that it's germane to the argument at hand. Do you? If not, perhaps you should. I had a fantastic education in college by the way, though my public school education wasn't all that hot. I transferred from a private to a public school in Appalachia quite early on in my development and will never forget the experience. I know how bad public schools compare to private ones from my own experience. The voucher program is needed and was working for 700 kids. I didn't read how happy you were that these 700 kids will be going from a good school to a failing one. Any thoughts on that? You also failed to find flaw with my argument against the rulings of the FL courts - SC on uniform public education and the lower court on religioun and public $$. May I assume that you can find no flaw and are just ranting against the voucher concept in general? I'm going for a run @ the beach then waddling to Zhllls. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Bill, your grasp of the spending patterns of the rich truly astounds me. I think you're 180 out from reality on that. Some rich people live frugally - most do not. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

700 lb kids are getting THAT offered to them? Hmmm...I look like a kid...I wonder how long it would take me to gain 520 pounds... Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

I disagree completely. The state is giving money in the form of a voucher to a PARENT, who in turn has the OPTION of using it at a religious school or a non-religious school. There is an intermediary in the transaction between the state and the school at which the voucher is used. If I give you a $500 shopping spree and you use it to buy PLAYGIRL magazines en masse, am I supporting PLAYGIRL? No. YOU are supporting PLAYGIRL of your own free will using money given to you by myself in the form of a shopping spree. I don't think you're the porn-loving type, but you see the analogy I'm sure. The parent, not the state, makes the decision to send money to the private school of their choice under the voucher program. One may extrapolate from the FL SC ruling that if the state pays the FL Secretary of State a salary, and the SecState gives $ to a church or religious charity, then the FL Constitution has been violated. The parent is entitled to a voucher, just as the SecState is entitled to a salary. Both the voucher and the SecState's salary come from the FL treasury. Are government employees prohibited from using their salaries as they see fit? Absurd by all counts. The FL court did not rule on the matter of religion at all - they skirted the issue completely. The five to two ruling stated that the voucher program undermines the public schools and violates the Florida Constitution's requirement of a uniform system of free public education. I think this absurd, as uniformity between different public school systems within the state itself is an obvious impossibility. Were the education within FL uniform, then no schools would be failing whilst others operate successfully and therefore no vouchers given. It is an existing LACK of uniformity in public education that bought the voucher program into being. I think the ruling quite poor. I would LOVE for this Meyer character to hold a meeting with the parents of the 700 kids he screwed over today and tell them how great he feels about his win in court. In the end, it's the children who have been screwed. Hard. If their parents don't find alternate ways to keep them in the private schools or schools other than those from whence they came, these kids are going back into failing schools - to the cheers of the NEA, NAACP, LMV, Mr. Meyer, and with the concurrence of the FL Supreme Court. Sickening. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Probably not. 700 lb kid...hmmm...he could probably belly fly with me in a sit...that might be a good day...or like PJ said...or perhaps if he waddled into an all you can eat buffet... Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!